1. Centre considering single lead intelligence agency along LAC
2. Indian Parliament’s budget session to begin on Tue; oppn look to corner govt on price rise, Adani
3. UN General Assembly president says India looking for solutions for many other countries
4. ‘End systemic persecution of minorities, misuse of blasphemy laws’: India tells Pakistan
5. Gauri Shankar Mandir defaced with anti-India graffiti in Canada; Sikhs for Justice alleged to be involved

What Else

6. NSA Doval, US counterpart participate in ‘special reception’ hosted by Indian envoy
7. India plans measures to curb Chinese imports amid trade gap concerns: Report
8. India: Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ culminates in Kashmir
9. Air Marshal AP Singh to be new Vice Chief of Indian Air Force
10. Supreme Court to hear pleas challenging ban on BBC documentary next week
11. Death toll in Peshawar mosque suicide blast rises to 62, at least 150 injured
12. UAE president’s Islamabad visit cancelled: PM Office
13. Russia-Ukraine conflict adversely affecting Pakistan: Bilawal
14. IMF team arrives Pakistan to discuss ninth review
15. China GDP: IMF says 5.2% economic growth possible this year after Covid-battered 2022
16. Two US Representatives introduce Bill promoting Taiwan’s IMF membership

Centre considering single lead intelligence agency along LAC

• The recent skirmishes along the Line of Actual Control with China have brought back the focus on having a single lead intelligence agency along the 3,488 km LAC.
• While the ITBP coordinates inputs from various agencies in Ladakh, the responsibility lies with Assam Rifles in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The move follows rapid infrastructure development on the Chinese side and frequent clashes among Indian and Chinese soldiers near LAC.
• Border guarding forces BSF, ITBP, and SSB follow the border outposts (BOPs) model while Assam Rifles follows the company operation, with a relatively smaller.
• At present, ITBP has 180 BOPs, with (140 soldiers in each) outpost, Centre had 2020 sanctioned an additional 47, with 34 for Arunachal and the rest for the western theatre.
• The govt also sanctioned the construction of 12 staging camps for ITBP that provide rations, logistics, and a place to stay during long-range patrols. (here)

Indian Parliament’s budget session to begin on Tue; oppn look to corner govt on price rise, Adani

• The budget session of the Parliament is scheduled to begin on Tue, and the opposition looks to corner the govt over inflation, the economy, the Adani-Hindenburg row, etc.
• The PM Modi-led govt has, however, asserted that it is willing to discuss any issue as long as proper rules are followed.
• The session will kick-start with the maiden address of President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament—Lower House and Upper House.
• In her speech, she will mostly highlight the govt’s achievements and policy priorities for the current year.
• After the president’s address, the Economic Survey will also be tabled on Tue.
• On Wed, Fin Min N Sitharaman will present the last full-fledged Union Budget of the govt before the 2024 LS elections. The Budget session will have 27 sittings.
• The government plans to bring around 36 bills —including 4 related to the budgetary exercise — during the session. (here)

UN General Assembly president says India looking for solutions for many other countries

• UNGA President Csaba Korosi hailed India and called the South Asian nation “one of the leaders of the Global South”.
• Korosi said that India is not only looking for solutions own problems but in many instances, has looked for many other countries as well.
• Korosi also said that the strategies taken by India are largely similar to that of the UN body as they are focused on the need for transformation globally.
• Korosi arrived in India on Sun on a 3-day visit.
• This is his first bilateral visit to any country since assuming the presidency in Sept 2022.
• Korosi will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, expected to discuss multilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
• The talks might also include India’s engagement with the UN body as well as sustainable water use. (here)
• P5 members of UNSC not enthusiastic about UNSC reforms, UNGA is divided, says Korosi at Delhi Presser.

‘End systemic persecution of minorities, misuse of blasphemy laws’: India tells Pakistan

• India on Mon called upon Pakistan to end systemic persecution of minorities misuse of blasphemy laws and forced convergence of minority community girls.
• Indian diplomat Pawan Badhe took a jibe saying the human rights record in the country has deteriorated drastically, with minorities being subjected to persecution.
• Pawan Badhe, First Secy at the Permanent Mission of India, urged Pakistan to stop targeting legitimate political activities in Sindh, Balochistan, and KP.
• He also highlighted that people in regions such as Balochistan, Sindh, and KP have continued to suffer political repression, persecution, and denial of their rights.
• India also called upon Pakistan to take credible, verifiable, irreversible, and sustained action against terrorism emanating from territories under its control. (here)
• Israel begins at the UN Human Right Council. Says it is concerned about the situation of human rights in Pakistan.
• Netherlands raises concern over minorities in Pakistan, Norway concerns growing over intolerance of religious minorities. Peru calls for minimum age of marriage to be 18
• The Philippines raises the issue of honour killing, children used as domestic labour.

Gauri Shankar Mandir defaced with anti-India graffiti in Canada; Sikhs for Justice alleged to be involved

• Gauri Shankar Mandir, a prominent Hindu temple located in Brampton in Canada, was defaced with anti-India graffiti in Canada.
• It is suspected that the temple was defaced with hate-filled messages directed toward India by the terror organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and other Khalistani groups.
• The Canadian authorities have begun an investigation into the incident.
• Notably, it is not the first time that a Hindu temple has been vandalized in Canada. Since July 2022, 3 other Hindu temples have been vandalized in Canada.
• “We strongly condemn the defacing….. We have raised our concerns on the matter with Canadian authorities,” the Indian Consulate in Toronto said in a statement.
• The SFJ later uploaded the video of the defacing on social media. (here)
• [Such incidences, including 3 in Australia, are meant to get media coverage and be in limelight on daily bases. Take spray paint and write something on any wall at night, what a big deal! But the big deal is to do it in an orchestrated way. This includes referendums that occurred in both countries, which is rather alarming, though it has no impact in India, as such but is psycho-op]

NSA Doval, US counterpart Sullivan participate in ‘special reception’ hosted by Indian envoy

• National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, his US counterpart Jake Sullivan, US Secy of Commerce Gina Raimondo and CEOs from both nations participated in a “special and unique reception” hosted by India’s envoy Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
• During the reception, the dignitaries held discussions on building bilateral cooperation in critical and emerging tech.
• Doval, who arrived in Washington on Tue, also met US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley.
• During the meeting, the two sides held discussions on various aspects of bilateral cooperation.
• Earlier, Doval participated in a Track 1.5 event hosted by the US-India Business Council at the US Chamber of Commerce, with Sullivan and Raimondo.
• The round table discussion was held on the sidelines of the official high-level dialogue of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) on Tue.
• The official dialogue between Doval and Sullivan will take place on Tue. (here)

India plans measures to curb Chinese imports amid trade gap concerns: Report

• India is considering a number of tariffs and non-tariff steps to cut imports of non-essential consumer and electronic goods, including from China, as trade imbalances concern policymakers.
• As many as 18 ministries, led by the federal trade ministry, met last week to firm up steps 1^st aimed at cutting imports, which accounts for nearly a 3^rd of India’s trade deficit.
• India has been trying to reduce its trade deficit with China since 2020, but with little success as China is a key and cheap supplier of goods including pharmaceuticals.
• The trade gap with China widened 28% in Apr-Dec 2022 from the same period a year earlier, as India’s domestic demand continued to support Chinese imports while COVID lockdowns in China crimped imports from India.
• The govt is considering ramping up investigations to weed out unfair practices on a “wide array” of imports.
• The govt is also likely to detail some of the steps in the Feb. 1 budget. (here)

India: Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ culminates in Kashmir

• India’s main opposition Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi has reached the end of the 4,000 km-long ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ or unity march.
• The march, which started in the southern state of Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari, continued for 5-months.
• Across the nation, the march attracted large crowds and various celebrities were also seen joining the walk.
• The march ended on Mon afternoon with a rally in a stadium in Srinagar.
• Gandhi along with other Congress leaders attended the rally.
• Some leaders of opposition parties were also present in a show of unity.
• The Congress leader stated that he insisted to travel on foot “my family and (Mahatma) Gandhi taught me to live fearlessly, otherwise, that is not living”. (here)

Air Marshal AP Singh to be new Vice Chief of Indian Air Force

• Air Marshal AP Singh has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force, officials said on Monday.
• He will succeed Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, who will retire from service on Tue.
• Air Marshal AP Singh is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command.
• He will take charge as the Vice Chief on Wed, the officials said.
• He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on Dec 21, 1984.
• Air Marshal Singh is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College. (here)

Supreme Court to hear pleas challenging ban on BBC documentary next week

• The SC agreed to examine two petitions questioning the govt’s decision to restrict the screening of BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” and its directives to video-sharing and social media platforms to take down the two-part series or tweets and posts containing links to it (here)
• “This is how they waste the precious time of SC where thousands of common citizens are waiting and seeking dates for justice,” law minister Kiren Rijiju said in a tweet.
• “For how long false propaganda can sustain? The matter is settled & set aside by the highest Court of India,” the law minister said in another tweet. (here)
• A group of activists and students on Mon screened the two-part BBC documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ in Chennai’s Valluvar Kottam. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Death toll in Peshawar mosque suicide blast rises to 62, at least 150 injured

• A powerful suicide blast inside a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines area on Monday martyred 32 people while 147 others were injured, officials told Geo News.
• Security officials say the suicide attacker was present in the front row during prayers when he exploded himself.
• Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital appeals to citizens to donate blood.
• Authorities are busy in the rescue operation.
• According to officials, the suicide attacker was present in the front row during the Zuhr prayer when he exploded himself, injuring dozens of faithful.
• The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had taken responsibility.
• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for Peshawar where he will be briefed on all aspects of the blast, the PM Office said in a statement. (here)

UAE president’s Islamabad visit cancelled: PM Office

• UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s day-long trip to Islamabad has been canceled due to bad weather, announced the PM Office on Mon.
• The president was scheduled to pay a visit to Islamabad on Mon to discuss the friendship and cooperation between the two.
• The president arrived in Pakistan on Jan 25 on a private visit and held a bilateral meeting with the PM after he arrived in Rahim Yar Khan.
• He was scheduled to visit Islamabad today.
• PM Shehbaz Sharif and members of the federal cabinet were set to welcome the UAE president at the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) Nur Khan Air Base today.
• On arrival in Pak on Jan 25, the president dropped clues that his govt is planning to broaden its investment footprint. (here)

Russia-Ukraine conflict adversely affecting Pakistan: Bilawal

• Pak FM Bilawal Bhutto on Mon called for the resolution of the Ukraine conflict through diplomatic means, saying that developing countries like Pakistan were facing consequences in terms of its economic impact.
• He expressed hope that the “strong tradition of diplomacy” of Russia would help achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
• Condemning the terrorist attack in Peshawar mosque, Sergei Lavrov stressed that the fight against terrorism should be more active all over the world without any double standards.
• He said that during the meeting they discussed building humanitarian, cultural, and educational links.
• Lavrov said that both countries have a convergence of views on many regional and international issues.

IMF team arrives Pakistan to discuss ninth review

• A team from the IMF arrived in Islamabad to discuss the 9^th review of the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility, which will start today.
• According to Pakistani TV (sources), Pakistan and the IMF will hold technical talks for the first 4 days, wherein economic data from different departments will be reviewed.
• Earlier, the IMF Representative for Pakistan said: “At the request of the authorities, an in-person Fund mission is scheduled to visit Islamabad [from] Jan 31 – Feb 9 to continue the discussions under the ninth EFF review,” reported Dawn.
• If everything goes well then the IMF would release $1.8 billion, which is still pending, according to Dawn.
• It had earlier been put off for 2 months due to Islamabad’s unwillingness to accept certain conditions placed before it by the IMF, which have yet to be resolved. (here)

China GDP: IMF says 5.2% economic growth possible this year after Covid-battered 2022

• The IMF has upgraded its forecast for China’s 2023 GDP to 5.2%, owing to the nation’s full reopening, and it is expected to have a significant impact on the global economy.
• The US and India, for instance, are expected to see their year-on-year economic growth rates slow to 1.4 and 6.1%, respectively – down from last year’s growths of 2 and 6.8%.
• The world’s 2^nd largest economy fell short of expectations last year as it grew by just 3%
• This marked the 1^st time in more than 40 years that China’s GDP failed to reach the global average, which was roughly 3.4% for 2022, the IMF said.
• Nonetheless, several downside risks originating from China could still adversely affect the global economy in 2023 (here)

Two US Representatives introduce Bill promoting Taiwan’s IMF membership

• The US House of Representatives introduced a Bill calling on Washington to support Taiwan’s participation in the IMF as a member, Focus Taiwan reported.
• Two members of the US House of Representatives, on Thu, introduced the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act seeks to ensure that the US Governor of the IMF advocates for Taipei and the provision of IMF technical assistance and training to the country.
• The Bill also seeks to involve Taiwan’s participation in the IMF’s regular surveillance activities relating to economic and financial policies, job opportunities at the IMF, and the provision of IMF technical assistance and training to Taipei.
• The IMF is a global organization of approximately 180 member countries set up to promote the health of the world economy. (here)