1. Union Cabinet raises LPG subsidy for Ujjawala to Rs 300 per cylinder; Central University in Telangana, Krishna Tribunal
2. India signs two MoUs in ocean sciences, medical product regulation with Dominican Republic
3. ‘Link between’ Sisodia & accused-turned-approver — how ED connected AAP’s Sanjay Singh to excise case
4. 2 terrorists killed in encounter in J-K’s Kulgam, search operation underway
5. ‘Pune IS module’ suspect was in touch with 2020 Delhi riots accused Sharjeel, say Delhi Police

What Else

6. India slaps import ban on 98 weapons in new push for self-reliance agenda
7. 2 dead, 1 injured in ‘unprovoked, indiscriminate’ firing by Afghan sentry on pedestrians at Chaman border: ISPR
8. Kabul calls Pakistan’s decision to expel undocumented Afghan nationals ‘unacceptable’
9. China exhibition shows latest advances in drone technology, especially for military use
10. China’s economic malaise boils down to ‘a failure to reform’ the system, report warns

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Union Cabinet raises LPG subsidy for Ujjawala to Rs 300 per cylinder; Central University in Telangana, Krishna Tribunal

• The Union Cabinet on Wed approved an increase in subsidy amount for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries from Rs 200 to Rs 300 per LPG cylinder.
• Briefing the media after a meeting of the union cabinet, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that the subsidy amount for the Ujjwala beneficiaries has been increased by Rs 100.
• The decision on additional subsidies for beneficiaries has come ahead of assembly polls in 5 states.
• Elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana will be held by the end of this year. (here)
• Telangana to get Tribal University, cabinet gives nod to introduction of Bill in Parliament: The Cabinet on Wed approved the proposal to set up Central Tribal University in Telangana by amending the Central Universities Act, 2009.
• There would be provision of funds of Rs. 889.07 crore to establish the university. (here)
• Union Cabinet also approves terms of reference for Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-II: The Union Cabinet approved the terms of reference to KWDT -II under the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956 for its adjudication between the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• The Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-II to resolve the dispute between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the Krishna River water-sharing. (here)

India signs two MoUs in ocean sciences, medical product regulation with Dominican Republic

• India on Wed signed 2 MoU in ocean sciences and medical product regulation with the Dominican Republic.
• The MoUs were signed during a meeting between Raquel Pena Rodriguez, the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, and India’s Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
• The two leaders also held discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in diverse sectors including trade, pharmaceuticals, ICT, agriculture, food processing, space, higher education, capacity building, Ayurveda, and Yoga.
• Notably, the two nations established diplomatic relations on 04 May 1999.
• MEA in the press release said, “The Dominican Republic is an important partner of India in the Latin America and Caribbean region. (here)

‘Link between’ Sisodia & accused-turned-approver — how ED connected AAP’s Sanjay Singh to excise case

• In its 4^th supplementary prosecution complaint filed in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy case, the ED claimed that Singh was “extremely close” to the accused, and was the connecting link between him and then dy CM Manish Sisodia.
• The prosecution complaint, the ED equivalent of a chargesheet, was filed in May 2023.
• Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP, was arrested by the ED Wed after raids at his New Delhi residence, a day after a court allowed Dinesh Arora, to turn approver in the case.
• Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in the excise policy case in Feb this year.
• The ‘deal’: Arora had allegedly taken accused businessman Amit Arora to the residence of Sanjay Singh.
• There, Singh purportedly told Amit Arora that if he accommodated some of the MPs in his liquor business, he (Singh) could arrange a meeting with Sisodia
• Amit Arora, director of Gurugram-based Buddy Retail Pvt. Ltd., was arrested by the ED in connection with the money laundering case in Nov last year. (here)

2 terrorists killed in encounter in J-K’s Kulgam, search operation underway

• 2 terrorists were killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces in J&K’s Kulgam, police said on Wed afternoon.
• According to officials, the bodies of killed terrorists are being retrieved from the site of the encounter.
• The encounter between terrorists and security forces broke out on Wed morning.
• Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Zone Police had said. (here)
• Civilian injured after terrorists open fire in J-K’s Anantnag: Terrorists shot at and injured one person in the Waniham area of Anantnag, police said on Wed evening.
• Following the firing incident, the area has been cordoned off, more details are awaited. (here)

‘Pune IS module’ suspect was in touch with 2020 Delhi riots accused Sharjeel, say Delhi Police

• Mohd Arshad Warsi, arrested by the DP Special Cell Mon in connection with the alleged IS Pune module, “was in touch” with 2020 Delhi riots accused Sharjeel Imam
• Jharkhand native Warsi, a BTech from AMU currently pursuing his PhD in ‘Islamic Principles in Management’ from JMI, has been mentioned in the chargesheet
• According to the charge sheet, Warsi was a member of ‘Students of Jamia (SOJ)’, a student body at JMI.
• The Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested two others — Shahnawaz alias Shafi Uzzama and Mohammed Rizwan Ashraf — along with Warsi in the IS module case.
• The Delhi Police chargesheet says Imam was in touch with the “radical SOJ”.
• Investigators claim SOJ is a radical group that distributed pamphlets to mobilize students of the JMI against the SC’s 2019 judgment. (here)

India slaps import ban on 98 weapons in new push for self-reliance agenda

• Pursuing an ambitious agenda for achieving self-reliance in the defense sector, India on Wed slapped an import ban on 98 weapons and systems
• This includes futuristic infantry combat vehicles, shipborne unmanned aerial systems, medium-range precision kill systems, ammunition, radars, sensors, and equipment for fighter jets, maritime surveillance planes, warships, helicopters, and tanks.
• The 5^th indigenization list, released by Def Min Rajnath Singh, takes the number of major defense items placed under an import ban during the last 5 years to 509.
• Singh released the list at the navy’s innovation and indigenization seminar, Swavlamban 2023.
• These platforms are expected to be indigenised during the next 5-6 years. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

2 dead, 1 injured in ‘unprovoked, indiscriminate’ firing by Afghan sentry on pedestrians at Chaman border: ISPR

• At least 2 people, including a 12-year-old child, were killed on Wed when an Afghan sentry opened “unprovoked and indiscriminate” firing on pedestrians at the Chaman border in Balochistan, the military’s media wing (ISPR) said.
• According to the ISPR, a child was also injured during the firing at the outbound gate located on the zero line.
• “Own troops exercised extreme restraint and avoided any exchange of fire in the presence of innocent passengers to avoid collateral damage,” it stated.
• Afghan authorities have been approached to inquire about the reason for such irresponsible and reckless acts, apprehend and hand over the culprit to Pakistan (here)

Kabul calls Pakistan’s decision to expel undocumented Afghan nationals ‘unacceptable’

• Afghan Taliban spox Zabihullah Mujahid on Wed said Pakistan’s decision to expel undocumented Afghan nationals was “unacceptable” and urged authorities to revisit.
• This comes a day after the caretaker govt gave an ultimatum to all undocumented immigrants, including Afghans, to leave Pakistan by Oct 31, or risk imprisonment and deportation to their respective countries.
• The decision was taken in an apex committee meeting headed by PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar and attended by the army chief, among others.
• After the passage of the deadline, the authorities would kickstart an operation targeting illegal properties and businesses owned by immigrants or those being run in collaboration with Pakistani nationals.
• The Pakistani Foreign Office has yet to state this matter.
• Around 1.3 million Afghans are registered refugees in Pakistan and 880,000 more have legal status to remain, according to the latest UN figures. (here)
• [Interesting to watch that any international human rights organization will speak for them]

AAC has given a call for a complete shutter down and wheel jam strike across AJK on Oct 5^th

• Awami Action Committee (AAC) has given a call for a complete shutter down and wheel jam strike across Azad Jammu Kashmir on Oct 5^th against the arrest of AAC leaders by AJK Police and no action on the Charter of Demand by the AJK Govt.
• Women and Children will also take to the streets tomorrow in the strike.
• The AAC in a very long meeting condemned torture, arrest, crackdown, house raids, humiliation of women, outraging their modesty, and violating the privacy of houses by the Government and the Police.
• It was decided to send copies of the Charter of Demand to the UN Sec. Gen., Amnesty International, the OIC, Rights Groups, the President of Pakistan, the PM, Pakistan, the COAS, the CJP, the Human Rights Commission Pakistan, and the heads of all the political parties.
• The AAC expressed that calling FC, PC, or other paramilitary forces from Pakistan to suppress the peaceful movement of oppressed and subjugated people of the peaceful region of AJK would be seen as an external attack on the state and the people of AJK will be urged to oppose the same with full force.
• There would be peaceful rallies by students on Oct 17^th, statewide protests on Oct 28^th, a boycott of payment of electricity bills till the demands are accepted, and removal of meter movement would be instigated if electricity connections are cut.
• The AAC also decided in the meeting that the central AAC will now be known as Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC).
• The AAC is getting support from all walks of life and ‘Jail Bharo’ would also start if the injustice continues. (Siasat)

China exhibition shows latest advances in drone technology, especially for military use

• Beijing displayed an array of new military drones at an exhibition in SW China last week, a technology the PLA considers a key area to advance.
• More than 300 models of UAVs were on display at the UAV Industry Development Conference in the S&T City in Mianyang, a major defense industry base in Sichuan.
• One small high-speed drone, or loitering munition, can carry out a suicide bombing at 174 km/hour, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
• The quadcopter drone has a maximum flight time of 30 minutes and is equipped with automatic tracking and location devices for a precision strike.
• It can carry 500 grams of TNT – enough to take out a normal car.
• The compact drone weighs only 1.8 kg, and comes with a backpack that would enable an infantry soldier to carry four of them at the same time. (here)

China’s economic malaise boils down to ‘a failure to reform’ the system, report warns

• China’s lackluster growth since reopening early this year has sparked a growing chorus of calls for greater reforms to address deep-rooted problems that could continue to weigh on economic prospects over the long run.
• “Structural threats to economic stability have never been greater,” said the China Pathfinder Annual Scorecard, a flagship report on Wednesday.
• It expects China’s economy to grow by less than 4% in 2023, which is lower than the estimated by major institutions and much lower than Beijing’s target of around 5%.
• China’s economy has shown signs of a comeback in the third quarter thanks to a slew of supportive policies unfurled since July to reinvigorate growth, which reached only 0.8% in the second quarter compared with the first quarter. (here)