Important Picks of the Day :

[ NATIONAL ]

India committed to non-discriminatory, complete elimination of nuclear weapons, says Shringla (↓)

Foreign Secretary said on Tueay said that “India is committed to the universal goal of non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament leading to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons”, on The International Day for Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

“India At Core Of Indo-Pacific Strategy, Military Blocs Not Answer”: France Envoy (↓)

French envoy to India Emmanuel Lenain termed the signing of AUKUS as a breach of trust between allies

Centre dissolves Ordnance Factory Board, transfers employees, assets & management to 7 PSUs (↓)

OFB is currently a defense ministry entity & supplies critical arms, ammunition to the Security Forces.

India successfully carried out the world’s biggest vaccination program, says Fin Min

Highlighting India’s strategic steps taken for jobs and social protection in the situation created by COVID-19, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that India is successfully carrying out the world’s biggest free vaccination program against the pandemic.

India achieved the highest ever exports worth $185 billion till Sept 21, says Piyush Goyal (↓)

There are rumors doing rounds that the duty has been reduced on the import of apples from China. No such decision has been taken.

All is not well in INC: Punjab withdraws security given to 20 close associates of ex-CM Amarinder (↓)

It includes IAS officer Suresh Kumar (R) Lt Gen T S Shergill (R), Raveen Thukral, Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, Khubi Ram, Gurmehar Singh Sekhon, Parminder Pal Singh Maan, and Vimal Sumbly, among others.

1 Pakistan terrorist killed, another captured in J&K’s Uri sector

The security forces in J&K claimed that 1 Pakistani terrorist was killed by the Indian Army in an anti-terror operation in the Uri sector on Tue. Out of the 2 terrorists holed up in the region, 1 of them surrendered before the forces, sources said. The operation was carried out by Pulwama police and troops of 50 RR, J&K Police said.

Mehbooba Mufti says locked in her house yet again on way to visit the Tral

Former J&K CM and Peoples Democratic Party Chief Mufti said on Wed she was yet again put under house arrest over the plans to visit a village in Tral, Pulwama district, that was allegedly “ransacked by an army”.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

Taliban want resumption of flights between India and Afghanistan, write to DGCA –(IndiaToday) (↓)

In the first such communication between the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and India, the outfit has written to the govt for resumption of flights between the 2 countries.

Afghanistan: Mujahid accuses US of violating Afghan airspace

Zabihullah Mujahid, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, on Wednesday said Mujahid said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan calls on all countries, especially the United States, to act in light of mutual commitments and per the international laws and avoid violating Afghan airspace.

Top US generals recommended having 2,500 troops in Afghanistan: Top American generals on Tue told lawmakers that they had recommended having 2,500 troops in Afghanistan to which President Joe Biden disagreed. The WH, however, defended the decision, acknowledging that it was a split recommendation from Biden’s advisors and generals.

Austin: Afghan Army Collapse ‘Took Us All By Surprise’

Pakistan’s campaign to support Taliban flops at UN

Pakistan aggressively campaigned at the UN in support of the Afghan Taliban. It caused anger in the United States, revulsion in Europe, and opposition at home for the Imran Khan government.

d-atis (@detresfa_) On Tuesday “Recent imagery from Skardu Airbase in Pak highlights considerable work completion on the new runway being prepared on-site, the construction is expected to boost Pakistan Air Force operations in the region most likely directed towards Kashmir, India.”

Countries forming ‘exclusive cliques’ & hyping ‘China threat’ — Beijing slams Quad summit

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the Quad has been insinuating China with the so-called ‘rules-based order’ and driving a wedge between Beijing and regional countries.

Wary of China, the US and EU forge an alliance on tech (↓)

With Beijing on the rise as a tech superpower, Brussels and Washington want to close ranks. But divisions loom over the new “Trade and Technology Council” alliance — and previous efforts have a mixed track record.

China hidden local govt debt is half of GDP, Goldman says

China’s hidden local govt debt has swelled to more than half the size of the economy, according to economists at Goldman Sachs Group Inc, who said the govt will need to be flexible in dealing with this as revenue is already under pressure due to a slowdown in land sales.

India committed to non-discriminatory, complete elimination of nuclear weapons, says Shringla

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tue said that “India is committed to the universal goal of non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament leading to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons”, on The International Day for Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons while speaking at the 76^th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Shringla said, “India is committed to the universal goal of non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament leading to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Consistent with the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament by the Final Document of the First Special Session of the UNGA on Disarmament (SSOD-1).”

• “India believes that the goal of nuclear disarmament can be achieved through a step by step process underwritten by a universal commitment and an agreed multilateral framework, that is global and non-discriminatory,” added the Foreign Secretary.
• He further reiterated India’s commitment to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
• He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has indicated India’s openness to new ideas as manifest in an ancient text Rig Veda, “which says that let noble thoughts come to us from all sites“.
• “India will engage with all member states towards realizing a nuclear-weapon-free world,” he added. (ANI)

“India at core of Indo-Pacific strategy, military blocs not answer”: France Envoy

Speaking exclusively to ANI on implications of the AUKUS pact, French envoy to India Emmanuel Lenain said: “We don’t think the logic of blocs being military confrontational is the answer to our problem. We feel that we need a much broader approach with much more partnership between countries, we need to provide an alternative to order pushed by certain countries in the region, we need a positive agenda.“

• AUKUS is a trilateral security agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States for the Indo-Pacific region announced on Sept 15 this year.
• France views Quad as a broader global group in comparison to security alliance AUKUS, the envoy said.
• “How do we interact with Quad depends on the way it is evolved. Right now we are pretty comfortable with the way how Quad is making announcements and working, ….…as you may have seen in the month of Apr, the Quad navies joined French military exercise and it was quite a success.”
• The first in-person Quad summit, hosted by US President Joe Biden, was held in Washington last week. The grouping includes Australia, India, Japan and the US.

Critics say that AUKUS has diluted the relevance of Quad. However, India has already clarified that AUKUS is a security alliance and Quad is an alliance of like-minded democracies. Ever since AUKUS was signed, there have been multiple interactions between India and France at the highest levels. French President Emmanuel Macron had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his French counterpart on the sidelines of UNGA in New York.

• Pointing at AUKUS, the envoy said there are two ways to face a challenge – either develop strategic autonomy or rely on other nations for security.
• “.. India France, it’s nothing new, are taking the first approach since the beginning”.
• We want to get strategic space, strategic autonomy and we feel the best way to do it is to work together as we have been doing for more than 50 years now on defence, critical technology, space, cyber, on AI, energy in many areas.
• “France has been on India’s side each time you needed us,” he added.
• The envoy termed the signing of AUKUS as a breach of trust between allies.
• “We feel we are also a country of Pacific. Also, we are India’s neighbor. We have territories, we have a second exclusive economic zone worldwide. We have 2 million French people in the area. Compared to India it’s few, for France it’s quite something and we have troops, we have thousands of troops, 7000 troops in the region,” he added.
• France recalled its envoys from the US and Australia after AUKUS was signed. Later after discussions between Mr. Macron and Mr. Biden, it was decided that the envoy to the US will return.

Public-private partnership can bring ‘defense production revolution’: Rajnath 

Defense minister Rajnath Singh on Tue said the govt has created an atmosphere of jointness to ensure the modernization of the armed forces in the rapidly evolving global security scenario. In his address at the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) annual meeting, he added public-private partnership can bring a “Defence Production Revolution” and help achieve the vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)”.

• “The recent contract of 56 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force is one of the examples of a strategic partnership model,” he said.
• Singh added due to these steps, defense exports have crossed the ₹38,000 crore mark in the last 7 years.
• He said over 10,000 Small and Medium Enterprises have joined the defense sector and there has been an increase in research and development, start-ups, innovation, and employment.
• He underlined the importance of indigenization and spoke about the reforms undertaken to integrate the private sector and achieve Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The reforms include:

• Earmarking 64.09% of Capital Acquisition Budget for 2021-22 for domestic capital procurement and 15% of capital procurement budget for direct procurement from the private industry
• setting up of Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu;
• introduction of Innovation for Defence Excellence
• free Transfer of Technology through Defence Research & Development Organisation and increase in FDI in defense up to 74% through automatic route and up to 100% through govt route.

Centre dissolves Ordnance Factory Board, transfers employees, assets & management to 7 PSUs

As part of the self-reliant India package, the central govt had announced on May 16 last year that it would improve autonomy, accountability, and efficiency in ordnance supplies by the corporatization of the OFB. The defense ministry has dissolved the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) with effect from Oct 1^st and transferred its assets, employees, and management to 7 public sector units (PSUs), according to an official order, dated Sept 28^th.

• The govt of India has decided to transfer, with effect from Oct 1, 2021, the management, control, operations, and maintenance of these 41 production units and identified non-production units to 7 govt companies (wholly owned by the Govt).
• The name of the 7 defense PSUs (also called DPSUs) are Munition India Limited, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, Advanced Weapons, and Equipment India Limited, Troop Comforts Limited, Yantra India Limited, India Optel Limited, and Gliders India Limited.
• The OFB is currently a defense ministry entity and supplies critical arms and ammunition to the three armed forces and the paramilitary.

The order said: The govt has decided that all the employees of OFB (Group A, B & C) belonging to the production units and also the identified non-production units shall be transferred en masse to the new DPSUs on terms of foreign service without any deputation allowance (deemed deputation) initially for 2 years from the appointed date (Oct 1).

• Each of the new DPSUs is required to frame rules and regulations related to service conditions of the absorbed employees, the order noted.
• Each of the DPSUs should also seek an option for permanent absorption from the employees on deemed deputation to that respective DPSU, within two years, it stated.
• The service conditions of the absorbed employees would not be inferior to the existing ones.
• A committee would be constituted by DDP (Department of Defense Production) for guiding the new DPSUs in this regard so that the absorption package given is attractive, the order mentioned.

India achieved the highest ever exports worth $185 billion till Sept 21, says Piyush Goyal

Union Cabinet has approved:

• The listing of Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) Ltd. through the Initial Public Offer (IPO) on the stock exchange, Union minister Piyush Goyal says.
• Cabinet approves Rs 4,400 crore investment in ECGC Ltd. in 5 years to provide support to exporters as well as banks; move to help create 59 lakh new jobs including 2.6 lakh “in-formal sector”.
• Cabinet approves the doubling of the Nimach-Ratlam railway line at a total estimated cost of Rs 1,095.88 crore. Ease of Travelling: Doubling of 111 km Rajkot-Kanalus section, 133 Km Nimach-Ratlam section will ensure faster train movement, more goods, and passenger trains, boost to the economy, the government says.
• India achieved the highest ever exports worth $185 billion till Sept 21: Piyush Goyal
• PM POSHAN scheme will subsume the existing Midday Meal Scheme. The scheme will be run in partnership with state governments but the major contribution will be of the Central govt.
• Cabinet approves continuation of the National Export Insurance Account, scheme and infusion of Rs 1,650 crore Grant-in-Aid over 5 years; move to enable NEIA support project exports worth up to ₹33,000 crore
• “I believe that ECGC could be listed on the stock exchange by next fiscal year.” Piyush Goyal, Union minister

Taliban want resumption of flights between India and Afghanistan, write to DGCA –(IT)

In the first such official communication between the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and India, the outfit has written to the government for resumption of flights between the two countries, India Today claimed possession of the letter (dated Sept 7). (On a lighter note, It didn’t disclose the copy of later or the letter itself as claimed).

The letter, addressed to Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Kumar, has been written by Alhaj Hameedullah Akhunzada, acting minister, Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority.

After extending his compliments to the DGCA, Akhunzada writes, “As you are well informed recently, the Kabul Airport was damaged and dysfunctional by American troops before their withdrawal. By technical assistance of our Qatar Brother, the airport became operational once again and a NOTAM) in this regard was issued on Sept 6, 2021.”

• The minister then requested the resumption of flights between India and Afghanistan.
• “The Civil Aviation of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan avails its highest assurance,” Akhunzada further said.
• India does not officially recognize the Taliban regime in Afghanistan even though a meeting did take place in Doha on Aug 31.
• The Indian Ambassador to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, upon the latter’s request.
• The Taliban took over Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US troops on Aug 30, while India operated the last Air Force flight out of Kabul on Aug 21^st, took off evacuees to Dushanbe and then to Delhi via an Air India flight

Speaking to the media on Sept 9 on the subject of the resumption of commercial flights between India and Afghanistan, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, “Yes, we are taking a longer route currently, as are most international airlines. When things get better, we will be back on the same track,” while officials told India Today TV that they were assessing the security situation on the ground.

US bars flight from landing with Americans from Kabul: Report: The Department of Homeland Security on Tue denied U.S. landing rights for a charter plane carrying more than 100 Americans and U.S. green card holders evacuated from Afghanistan, organizers of the flight said.

• “They will not allow a charter on an international flight into a U.S. port of entry,” Bryan Stern, a founder of non-profit group Project Dynamo, said of the department’s Customs and Border Protection agency.
• Taliban warns the United States of consequences if US drones continue to violate Afghan airspace.

Countries forming ‘exclusive cliques’ & hyping ‘China threat’ — Beijing slams Quad summit

China on Mon slammed the Quad grouping, saying a handful of countries are forming “exclusive cliques” and hyping” the ‘China threat’ theory, and the move is doomed to fail.

• The Quad leaders at their first-in-person summit in Washington on Sept 25 pledged to ensure a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, which is also “inclusive and resilient”, as they noted that the strategically vital region, witnessing China’s growing military maneuvering, is a bedrock of their shared security and prosperity. (PS: weekend letter)
• Asked for her reaction at a media briefing here, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, “We are following the in-person Quad summit held by the US, Japan, India, and Australia.”

“China is firmly opposed to this (QUAD),” she said. She also pointed out that what most countries in the world recognize and accept is the international system with the UN at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, rather than the so-called “order” unilaterally defined by one or few countries.

• China always believes that any multilateral mechanism should conform to the trend of the times for peace and development, help enhance mutual trust and cooperation among countries, and should not target or undermine the interests of any third party, she said.
• The Quad leaders said in a joint statement together, we recommit to promoting the free, open, rules-based order, rooted in international law and undaunted by coercion, to bolster security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
• China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.

Hua also attacked the “Summit for Democracy” planned by the Biden administration: According to the US State Department, on Dec 9-10 this year, Biden will host the first of two ‘Summits for Democracy’, “which will bring together leaders from govt, civil society, and the private sector to set forth an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal and to tackle the greatest threats faced by democracies today through collective action.”

• By putting together this so-called “Summit for Democracy”, the US is, in essence, drawing an ideological line for bloc politics. This will only lead to division and ‘confrontation’, which will find no support as it runs against the trend of the times, she said.
• A crucial criterion of democracy should be whether the people’s expectations, needs, and aspirations are met and whether they enjoy tangible benefits. Whether it is good or not should not be judged by what we say, but what we do, she said.

Punjab withdraws security given to 20 close associates of ex-CM Amarinder

On the controversy about the new AG APS Deol being former DGP Sumedh Saini’s lawyer, Channi said that the govt will set up a special team to fight all important cases, “A team of a special prosecutor and 10 lawyers is being set up. This team will work under the special prosecutor. The team will handle all important cases of the state govt.”

• Sidhu on Wednesday took to Twitter to state that he will not compromise on his principles, even if it meant sacrificing any posts.
• Meanwhile, the former CM of Punjab commented after Sidhu’s resignation on Monday, “Congress High Common must accept it without any further delay”. He recalled his previous statement that Sidhu is ‘unstable’ and the party will regret on its decision.
• On Wednesday, in a Press Conference at residence, a Senior leader, Kapil Sibal: “In our party, there is no president so we don’t know, who is taking these decisions. We know and yet we don’t know”.
• He took dig at Congress leadership: ‘G-23 leaders are not the ones leaving party’. Sibal also mentioned that such turmoil in the ‘border state’, especially after warning across the border, is unfortunate for national security.
• Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has written a letter to Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi, asking her to convene an urgent meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC): ANI
• Punjab Police issued an order on Wed withdrawing the security deployed to 20 close associates of former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.