1. ISRO successfully executes SpaDeX docking experiment; India joins elite club of nations
2. Singapore aiming to build semiconductor ecosystem in India, says President Shanmugaratnam
3. India building 60 Navy ships, to generate Rs 3 trillion in returns: Modi
4. India: 12 Naxals killed in Chhattisgarh encounter in South Bastar
5. Lakshadweep: Indian Coast Guard rescues 54 passengers from stranded vessel

What Else

1. Pro-Khalistan activist Gurpatwant Pannun case: panel seeks action against key person
2. Canada saw 50,000 ‘no-show’ international students, Indians top table with 19,582: Report
3. Amid ‘discord’ in Mahayuti, PM Modi meets MLAs of the combine for lunch, urges them to interact more
4. Rahul Gandhi stirs controversy with ‘fighting Indian state’ remark during Congress HQ inauguration
5. US lifts ban on Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, two other Indian entities
6. RBI to conduct daily VRR auctions from Fri to infuse liquidity
7. Bangladesh military officials express interest in JF-17 Thunder fighter jet from Pakistan
8. Bangladesh: Rules relaxed to import 3 lakh tonnes of rice
9. Bangladesh: Constitution reform commission proposes new principles for Bangladesh
10. Bangladesh: Idol of a Hindu goddess was discovered broken inside a temple
11. Pakistan was never a tactical ally of the US: White House official

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ISRO successfully executes SpaDeX docking experiment; India joins elite club of nations

• India has successfully executed the SpaDeX docking experiment, joining an elite club of nations including the United States, Russia, and China.
• This achievement marks a significant milestone in India’s space program, demonstrating its capability to perform complex space docking maneuvers.
• The SpaDeX mission, launched on December 30, 2024, involved two satellites, Chaser (SDX01) and Target (SDX02), which were designed to rendezvous and dock in orbit.
• After a series of maneuvers, the satellites successfully docked, with the Chaser capturing the Target with precision, followed by smooth retraction and rigidization for stability.
• This achievement has significant implications for India’s future space missions, including the Chandrayaan-4 and Gaganyaan programs, which will require similar docking capabilities.
• The success of SpaDeX also opens up opportunities for India to explore new areas of space research and development. (more)

Singapore aiming to build semiconductor ecosystem in India, says President Shanmugaratnam

• Singapore is looking to build a semiconductor ecosystem in India, according to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
• This move aims to support India’s growing semiconductor industry and facilitate Singapore’s ecosystem of semiconductor companies to participate in the Indian market.
• The two countries have already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to partner and cooperate in the field of semiconductors.
• This agreement focuses on collaboration in areas like talent development, knowledge exchange, and manufacturing.
• Singapore’s semiconductor industry is significant, contributing around 10% of global semiconductor production, 5% of fabrication capacity, and 20% of equipment manufacturing.
• Major global semiconductor companies, including Qualcomm, AMD, and Micron, operate in Singapore.
• India, on the other hand, is actively working towards creating a strong semiconductor industry, recognizing the economic and strategic value of technology in the future.
• With a large electronics market and a skilled workforce, India is a key player in the global technology scenario.
• The partnership between Singapore and India is expected to build a robust semiconductor supply chain and align regulations related to semiconductor production.
• This collaboration will likely benefit both countries, with Singapore’s expertise and experience complementing India’s scale and growth potential. (more)

India building 60 Navy ships, to generate Rs 3 trillion in returns: Modi

• PM Modi recently announced that 60 large Navy ships, valued at approx Rs 1.5 trillion, are currently under construction in India.
• This investment is expected to generate an economic circulation of around Rs 3 trillion and create a significant employment multiplier effect, with each vessel generating up to 14,000 direct and indirect jobs.
• The PM highlighted the importance of the “Make in India” initiative, which is not only enhancing the capabilities of India’s armed forces but also driving economic progress.
• The shipbuilding ecosystem is a prime example, with experts estimating that every rupee invested in shipbuilding has nearly double the economic impact.
• He also emphasized the govt’s commitment to self-reliance in defense, with the armed forces identifying over 5,000 items and equipment that will no longer be imported.
• The establishment of India’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility and a transport aircraft factory are also notable developments.
• The Indian Navy has made significant progress in its “Make in India” journey, with 39 out of 40 naval vessels being built in Indian shipyards.
• The commissioning of INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer marks a significant milestone in this journey. (more)

India: 12 Naxals killed in Chhattisgarh encounter in South Bastar

• At least 12 Naxals were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s South Bastar area on Thu.
• The encounter is still ongoing, with a comprehensive search operation underway in the area.
• This comes after five Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Sun.
• The security forces recovered several automatic and other weapons, explosives, and Maoist literature from the encounter site in Bijapur district.
• The recovered weapons included one SLR rifle, one 12-bore rifle, two single-shot rifles, one BGL launcher, and one locally made Bharmar gun.
• Notably, there has been a significant decline in Naxal incidents in Chhattisgarh, with a 52% decrease in incidents from 2018 to 2022. (more)

Lakshadweep: Indian Coast Guard rescues 54 passengers from stranded vessel

• The Indian Coast Guard successfully rescued 54 passengers, including 22 women, 20 children, 9 men, and 3 infants, from a stranded passenger vessel in the Lakshadweep archipelago on Wed.
• The vessel departed Kavaratti on Tue at 12:15 AM but suffered an engine failure and was stranded mid-sea.
• The Lakshadweep Administration sent a distress alert to the Indian Coast Guard, which launched a Search and Rescue (SAR) mission.
• The coast guard located the vessel, established communication, and relayed the details to a nearby ship.
• The ship reached the stranded vessel at around 4:30 PM on Tue and safely embarked all 54 passengers.
• The passengers were provided with emergency care and reassurance before being handed over to the Lakshadweep Admin at Kavaratti Island at around 9 AM on Wed.
• The Indian Coast Guard emphasized the importance of adhering to safety protocols, such as refraining from overloading and carrying life-saving equipment, to make search and rescue operations more effective. (more)

Pro-Khalistan activist Gurpatwant Pannun case: panel seeks action against key person

• Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot against Sikh extremist Gurpatwant Pannun in New York, has pleaded not guilty in a US federal court.
• Gupta was extradited from the Czech Republic on June 14 and is being held in a Brooklyn detention facility.
• He faces charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each charge.
• Gupta’s attorney, Jeffrey Chabrowe, entered the “not guilty” plea on his behalf, and a status conference has been set for June 28.
• The US Attorney General has stated that Gupta’s extradition demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting American citizens from harm.
• It’s worth noting that India has denied any involvement in the alleged plot and has launched a high-level investigation into the matter.
• Chabrowe has also denied the charges, stating that his client has been “unfairly charged”. (more)
• US Ambassador Eric Garcetti has welcomed India’s Pannun inquiry report as a “positive first step”.
• However, he emphasized that the process is not yet complete, indicating that more action is needed to address the alleged assassination plot. (more)

Canada saw 50,000 ‘no-show’ international students, Indians top table with 19,582: Report

• A report by The Globe and Mail reveals that nearly 50,000 international students, including 19,582 Indians, failed to show up at their designated Canadian colleges and universities.
• This represents 6.9% of international students recorded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
• The top countries with the highest “no-show” rates include India, the Philippines, China, Iran, and Rwanda.
• Experts suggest that requiring international students to pay fees upfront could reduce system abuse.
• Indian law enforcement is investigating potential links between Canadian colleges and entities in India suspected of facilitating illegal border crossings into the US.
• Immigration Minister Marc Miller has tightened regulations for international students to address abuse of the system. (more)

Amid ‘discord’ in Mahayuti, PM Modi meets MLAs of the combine for lunch, urges them to interact more

• PM Modi has urged Mahayuti MLAs to strengthen their alliance and bond at the grassroots level amidst differences over cabinet berths, portfolios, and guardian ministerships.
• During a lunch meeting in Mumbai, Modi shared his inputs on running the government in Maharashtra, emphasizing the need for increased interactions among party members
• Modi’s advice comes after the Mahayuti coalition, comprising the BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena, secured 230 out of 288 seats in the Maharashtra assembly election.
• However, differences arose when some former ministers were left out of the cabinet expansion, and delays occurred in appointing guardian ministers.
• The meeting is significant, given the recent controversies, including accusations of shielding accused individuals in a murder case.
• Modi’s guidance aims to promote unity and cooperation among Mahayuti MLAs, citing the Gujarat governance model as an example. (more)

Rahul Gandhi stirs controversy with ‘fighting Indian state’ remark during Congress HQ inauguration

• Rahul Gandhi’s statement that the Congress Party is fighting not only the BJP and RSS but also “the Indian State” has sparked controversy.
• Speaking at the inauguration of the new Congress headquarters, Gandhi accused the BJP and RSS of dominating all major institutions in the country.
• Gandhi also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he is silencing the voices of marginalized communities.
• However, his comments drew sharp criticism from the BJP, with Union Minister and BJP President JP Nadda accusing him of revealing the “ugly truth” about the Congress.
• Nadda claimed that Gandhi’s actions and words are aimed at “breaking India and dividing our society”.
• BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya also condemned Gandhi’s comments, saying they amount to declaring “open war” against the Indian State. (more)

US lifts ban on Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, two other Indian entities

• The United States on Wed removed three major Indian organizations from its restricted list as part of its efforts to enhance civil nuclear cooperation between India’s top nuclear institutions and American companies.
• Indian Rare Earths: A key player in India’s rare earth elements industry.
• Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre (IGCAR): A premier nuclear research institute in India.
• Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC): India’s primary nuclear research facility.
• This move aims to enhance civil nuclear cooperation between India and the US, supporting joint research and development, and promoting shared energy security goals (more)

RBI to conduct daily VRR auctions from Fri to infuse liquidity

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is taking a significant step to ease liquidity concerns in the banking system.
• Starting this Fri, the RBI will conduct daily variable rate repo (VRR) auctions on all working days in Mumbai, to infuse liquidity into the system.
• The initial auction amount will be Rs 50,000 crore, and the auctions will be conducted between 10 am and 10.30 am.
• This move is in response to the banking system’s current liquidity deficit, which has recently exceeded Rs 2 trillion.
• The situation will worsen with the upcoming goods and services tax (GST) outflows later this month.
• Market participants view this initiative as a positive step, as it will create a sense of assured liquidity.
• However, some experts believe that addressing durable liquidity may require more substantial actions, possibly at the policy meeting.
• The RBI’s efforts to ensure stable liquidity conditions will likely be a top priority in the upcoming policy. (more)

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Bangladesh military officials express interest in JF-17 Thunder fighter jet from Pakistan

• A delegation from Bangladesh, led by Lt Gen SM Qamarul Hassan, recently met with Pakistani officials to discuss strengthening military ties and enhancing cooperation between their air forces.
• The Bangladesh team showed keen interest in Pakistan’s advanced military equipment, particularly the JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.
• During the meeting at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to deepening its military partnership with Bangladesh.
• They discussed joint training programs and expanding collaborative opportunities.
• This development highlights the growing military cooperation between the two nations, building on their existing bilateral relations. (more)

Bangladesh: Rules relaxed to import 3 lakh tonnes of rice

• The Bangladeshi government has relaxed rules for importing 3 lakh tonnes of rice through international tenders.
• This move aims to expedite the purchase of rice to meet the country’s needs.
• To achieve this, the government plans to shorten the tender submission period from 42 days to 15 days.
• This change will enable the government to procure 500,000 metric tons of rice from international sources in the current financial year.
• The govt has set a target to collect 24 lakh 61 thousand metric tons of rice in the current financial year 2023-2024.
• Out of this, 19 lakh 61 thousand metric tons of rice will be purchased from domestic sources, and 5 lakh metric tons of rice from international sources.
• The international sources include importing 3 lakh metric tons of rice from the G-to-G level and 2 lakh metric tons through international tenders. (more)

Bangladesh: Constitution reform commission proposes new principles for Bangladesh

• The Constitution Reform Commission in Bangladesh has proposed several key changes to the country’s constitution. Here are the main recommendations:
• Revised Preamble: Include equality, human dignity, social justice, pluralism, and democracy, while removing nationalism, socialism, and secularism ¹.
• Bicameral Parliament: Establish a National Assembly and Senate, each with four-year terms, to ensure better representation.
• National Constitutional Council: Create a constitutional body to balance state powers, oversee key appointments, and ensure transparency and accountability.
• Prime Minister’s Term: To prevent authoritarianism, limit the Prime Minister to two terms and enable no-confidence motions.
• Decentralized Judiciary: Establish permanent High Court benches in divisional cities to ensure justice and accessibility for all.
• Local Governance: Strengthen local govt systems by forming a Local Govt Commission and establishing coordination councils.
• Expanded Fundamental Rights: Ensure constitutional protection for fundamental rights through a comprehensive charter.
• Electoral Reforms: Elect the President through an electoral college, with a four-year term.
• These recommendations aim to promote democracy, accountability, and transparency in Bangladesh’s governance. (more)

Bangladesh: Idol of a Hindu goddess was discovered broken inside a temple

• An idol of a Hindu goddess was discovered broken inside a temple in the Baraitoli area of Kaliakair upazila, Gazipur.
• The incident occurred early in the morning, and a passer-by named Mahadev and the temple priest Sukumar Chakraborty reported the incident to the police.
• The idol was kept in a small walled room without doors or windows on the side of the road.
• According to the officer-in-charge of Kaliakair Police Station, the area had been used for a puja ceremony involving animal sacrifices the previous day.
• However, some locals believe the idol was vandalized, while others think it might have fallen.
• The police are investigating the incident and are yet to determine the exact cause
• Kaliakair Upazila Nirbahi Officer said that further details would be provided after the investigation is completed. (more) Link later deleted.

Pakistan was never a tactical ally of the US: White House official

• White House official John Kirby stated that Pakistan was never a formal ally of the US, with no treaty of alliance between them.
• However, he acknowledged the two nations’ historical cooperation in combating terrorism, particularly in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
• Kirby recognized Pakistan’s ongoing struggles with terrorist violence and reassured that the Biden administration remains committed to working with Pakistan to address common security threats.

He emphasized that this commitment has not changed and will continue throughout their term in office. (more)