1. ‘Development of India-China Ties Premised on Prevalence of Peace at Borders: Rajnath To Chinese Defence Minister
2. Pak Military has Special Propaganda Cell in India, ISPR Gave Content for BBC Documentary: Source
3. Army to ‘test bed’ niche technologies; operationalize command cyber operations
4. Calcutta HC orders NIA probe into Ram Navami violence in West Bengal
5. US working on jet engine deal with India before PM Modi’s visit: US Congressman Ro Khanna

What Else

6. ‘Not Before Me’: Gujarat HC Judge Opts out of Hearing Rahul Gandhi’s Appeal in Modi Surname Case
7. Amit Shah launches world’s first liquid nano DAP; Here’s how it will help farmers
8. Police to get specialized drones to check gun-smuggling, rioting in Uttar Pradesh
9. China holds hard talks with Pak generals over CPEC project’s security
10. China vows to retaliate if US continues case against police officers accused of targeting dissidents in America
11. China hawk John Bolton to meet President Tsai Ing-wen during week-long Taiwan trip
12. China denounces US plans to send nuclear ballistic submarine to South Korea
13. SBP-held reserves rise to $4.46 billion
14. Election impasse: Govt, PTI members to meet again today after opening round of talks at Parliament House

‘Development of India-China Ties Premised on Prevalence of Peace at Borders: Rajnath To Chinese Defence Minister

• Minister Rajnath Singh on Thu held talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu at the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting in the national capital.
• Singh ‘categorically conveyed’ to Li that the development of relations between India and China is premised on the prevalence of peace and tranquillity at the borders.
• Singh added that all issues at the LAC need to be resolved by existing bilateral agreements and commitments.
• He reiterated that violation of existing agreements has eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations and disengagement at the border.
• Singh held talks with Li 4 days after the 18^th round of the China-India Corps Commander Level Meet on Apr 23, which ended inconclusively.
• Singh will chair the SCO DMs Meeting today in New Delhi and will be participated by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Pak (virtual). (here)
• No handshake between Indian, and Chinese defense ministers ahead of the bilateral, while Singh had a handshake with Tajik, Iran, and Kazakh counterparts ahead of the bilateral.

Pak Military has Special Propaganda Cell in India, ISPR Gave Content for BBC Documentary: Source

• News18 (source): Pakistan military has a special cell in India to monitor and produce propaganda against the country, a Qatar-based military source has told.
• The objective is to feed unofficial press releases to Pak media outlets and international platforms, then use it to submit fake evidence to human rights watchdogs.
• This cell has more than 250K fake social media accounts of WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for the distribution of disinformation.
• There are credible reports that the Pakistan army’s media wing cell provided all proofs and propaganda content to BBC for the controversial documentary.
• Directives were issued to Pakistani media outlets by ISPR to air the BBC documentary against PM Modi and raise the Gujarat and Kashmir issues.
• On the condition of anonymity, a senior politician from the PPP said, “We have very strong relations with the INC. PPP and INC are working on track II diplomacy in the US, UK, and the Middle East against Modi and BJP’s rising extremist policies.”
• The politician claimed that Congress’s top leaders are in contact with PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and he is likely to visit India in April-May this year. (here)

Army to ‘test bed’ niche technologies; operationalize command cyber operations

• The Army on Thu said it has decided to have dedicated operationalized command cyber operations and support wings (CCOSWs) to undertake cyber security.
• The decision to cyber operations wings was taken at the Army Commanders Conference that took place from April 17 to 21.
• (Sources)- a large number of niche technology-enabled equipment are being inducted into the Indian Army including swarm drones, loitering weapons, and anti-drone gear.
• The expansion of cyber warfare capabilities by India’s adversaries has made the cyber domain more competitive and contested than ever before, they said.
• It said the commanders also took stock of the emerging security scenarios and reviewed the operational preparedness and readiness of the Indian Army.
• It said in the Conference also approved a new Technical Entry Scheme for officers as B Tech graduates and it will come into effect from Jan 2024.
• And 1-year military training is imparted at the Officers Training Academy, Gaya.
• It is now decided to have a 4-year tenure with 3 years of training on technical training at the CTW, followed by 1 year of basic military training at IMA, Dehradun (here)
• Former Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Yogesh Kumar Joshi today took over as Director General of the Center for Contemporary China Studies in the MEA. Joshi is a Vir Chakra awardee from the Kargil war and has done multiple tenures along the China border & served as Defence Attaché in Beijing, China.

Calcutta HC orders NIA probe into Ram Navami violence in West Bengal

• The Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered a National Investigation Agency probe into the violence in Howrah, Hooghly and Dalkhola during Ram Navami this year.
• A division bench of acting chief justice ordered sate Police to hand over all the necessary documents to the NIA within 2 weeks.
• The order has given to all concerned PS to hand over all records, FIRs and CCTV to the NIA and NIA will start investigation after NOC from center
• The high court’s order came on BJP MLA Subhendu Adhikari PIL seeking an NIA probe into the violence on Ram Navami in WB.
• Violence broke out between two groups when a Ram Navami procession was taken out in West Bengal’s Howrah city last year.
• Vehicles were torched, shops ransacked and stones pelted during the violence.
• After violence marred Ram Navami celebrations in the city, a large contingent of police was deployed. (here)

US working on jet engine deal with India before PM Modi’s visit: US Congressman Ro Khanna

• US Congressman RO Khanna said the US wants to make sure the GE Engines deal with India is done so that they don’t lose out to Europe.
• Khanna said India has realised that the Soviet military equipment doesn’t work as well and the Soviet is moving towards China, and India has really been open to building a strong relationship with America. (here)
• The representatives of the US ‘India Caucus’ are working to ensure that PM Modi gets to speak to the US Congress, said US Congressman Ro Khanna on Thu.
• According to media reports, PM Modi will be on a bilateral visit to the US in Jun-July this year. (here)

‘Not Before Me’: Gujarat HC Judge Opts out of Hearing Rahul Gandhi’s Appeal in Modi Surname Case

• Gujarat HC judge, Justice Geeta Gopi, has rescued herself from hearing the appeal of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the “Modi surname” case.
• Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday moved the high court against the Surat sessions court’s order that refused to stay his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case.
• Gandhi’s lawyer PS Champaneri mentioned the case before the court, seeking an urgent hearing. But after a brief hearing, the court said, “Not before me.”
• Champaneri said that now, a note will be sent to the Acting CJ to place the matter before any other court.
• Gandhi also filed 2 applications, one for a stay on the sentence (or bail till the disposal of his appeal) and another for a stay on conviction till the disposal of the appeal. (here)

Amit Shah launches world’s first liquid nano DAP; Here’s how it will help farmers

• Home Minister Amit Shah launched the “world’s first liquid nano DAP (Di-Ammonia Phosphate) fertiliser” Wed.
• Liq DAP, manufactured by IFFCO, is being touted as a revolutionary product as it will help farmers reduce production costs and help them wean off chemical fertilisers.
• IFFCO owns a patent on its nano urea and nano DAP, and the cooperative will get royalties for the product for the next 20 years.
• Based on its promising findings, the Agri Ministry authorised IFFCO’s nano DAP fertiliser and announced it in the Fertiliser Control Order in Mar of this year. (here)

Police to get specialised drones to check gun-smuggling, rioting in Uttar Pradesh

• The police department in Uttar Pradesh, India is going hi-tech to keep a check on anti-social elements in the state and smuggling as well as the use of weapons by the mafia.
• The police department has signed a contract with a robotic start-up, based in Pune, according to which they will provide 84 drones with the feature of thermal imaging.
• The drones will also assist the police of UP in controlling the situation of riots and improve their capability of aerial surveillance.
• The contract has been bagged by Sagar Defence Engineering at less than $12,220.38/per drone. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

China holds hard talks with Pak generals over CPEC projects security

• As Pakistan army chief, Gen Asim Munir is on 4 days visit to Beijing, amid political and economic crisis at home.
• China, as per reports not happy with the developments in CPEC project, in which it invested 48 billion in projects and decided not to go soft.
• Beijing has warned that there would be serious repercussions on “milk and honey” ties if Islamabad failed to secure the intrests of Chinese nationals
• This blunt message was delivered to Pak ISI Chief in Beijing earlier this month and has been underscored during the on-going visit of Army Chief.
• There is a growing anxiety in Beijing including President Xi that repeated security conerns and thus delays will not only impact the BRI but also portray Beijing.
• Majority of these attacks on Chinese nationals and CPEC projects are taken place in Balochistan, where Beijing has invested heavily with focus on Gwadar port. (here)

China vows to retaliate if US continues case against police officers accused of targeting dissidents in America

• Beijing has vowed to retaliate if the US Justice Department continues to press charges against “Chinese police officers” accused of harassing and intimidating dissidents in US.
• Chinese FM, said on Thu that the US was “countering basic facts, professional conduct, and the spirit of the rule of law, and is weaponising and politicising the law”.
• Earlier this month, the US DoJ announced that a total of 44 people had been charged over what it said was a “transnational repression scheme” harassing Chinese nationals.
• Those charged include 40 Chinese police officers and 2 officials with the Cyberspace Administration of China, the county’s internet watchdog.
• The defendants, all of whom are believed to live outside the US, are accused of creating fake SM accounts to harass and intimidate Chinese dissidents living abroad. (here)

China hawk John Bolton to meet President Tsai Ing-wen during week-long Taiwan trip

• Former WH NSA, John Bolton is in Taiwan for a week-long visit as he seeks to raise his profile ahead of the US election.
• The outspoken China hawk – who is vying for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race – has been invited by pro-independence groups, Taiwan FM on Thu
• Taiwan residents living within sight of mainland China voice concerns over live-fire drills
• According to the ministry, Bolton – who arrived in Taiwan on Wed – will address the annual meeting of the World Taiwanese Congress on Sat.
• He will also speak at the Formosan Association for Public Affairs’ 40^th anniversary banquet on Mon.
• Bolton is expected to meet Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen and other govt officials as well as the heads of political parties to exchange views on security issues. (here)

China denounces US plans to send nuclear ballistic submarine to South Korea

• China denounced the US’ plan to send a nuclear ballistic missile submarine to S Korea as Washington and Seoul strengthen their alliance to counter pressure from Pyongyang
• FM said on Thu that China firmly opposed the deployment of the nuclear submarine and other “US strategic assets” announced by President and S Korean President on Wed.
• Mao added that the decision was the result of the US’ “selfish geopolitical interests”.
• “The United States has put regional security at risk and intentionally used the issue of the [Korean] peninsula as an excuse to create tension,” she said in Beijing.
• In particular, a US nuclear ballistic missile submarine will “visit” S Korea, which has not happened since the early 1980s.
• Biden said no nuclear weapons would be permanently based there.
• The two sides will establish a Nato-style nuclear consultative group to share information on nuclear assets and intelligence, as well as jointly plan exercises. (here)

SBP-held reserves rise to $4.46 billion

• As the country tries to find ways to secure external financing and keep itself afloat, the State Bank of Pakistan held foreign exchange reserves recorded a meagre rise.
• The SBP, in its weekly bulletin, mentioned its reserves have jumped by $30 million to $4.46 billion as of Apr 20, which will provide an import cover of less than a month.
• The net foreign reserves held by commercial banks stand at $5.56 billion, $1.1 billion more than the SBP, taking the total liquid foreign reserves to $10.02 billion.
• SBP-held reserves rise to $4.46 billion: Although the SBP did not specify the reason behind the increase, there was a $300 million rise last week, which was due to the loan provided by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. (here)

Election impasse: Govt, PTI members to meet again today after opening round of talks at Parliament House

• Members of the ruling coalition and opposition PTI will resume talks on elections in Punjab and KP on Fri, following the initiation of dialogue today.
• Representatives from both sides met in evening to begin the negotiations, saying that the talks concluded after more than an hour.
• The negotiations have taken place while a written order is awaited by the SC regarding elections, an issue on which there has been a weeks-long impasse.
• Parties part of the ruling coalition would then be apprised of the PTI’s demands, he added. (here)