1. PM Modi inaugurates National Technology Day event, launches projects worth Rs 5,800 crore
2. Pak Army maintaining high number of terrorists in launchpads along LoC
3. Delhi govt ought to have control of services subject to exclusions on public order, police, land: SC
4. Shinde govt gets relief; SC says Maha Governor erred, but court can’t restore MVA govt
5. Tamil Nadu Cabinet reshuffle: TRB Rajaa sworn in as minister, PTR moved to IT ministry

What Else

6. NIA conducts raid in Delhi in Kerala train arson attack case
7. Pakistan: Imran Khan’s Arrest and Turmoils in the Country
8. National Assembly’s term can be extended by six months in the current situation
9. PNS Tipu Sultan and PNS Shahjahan have joined the fleet of the Pakistan Navy
10. China not invited to EU, Indo-Pacific policy talks in Sweden – but it will loom over them
11. Top US and China envoys meet in Vienna, the highest in-person engagement since Xi and Biden in November

PM Modi inaugurates National Technology Day event, launches projects worth Rs 5,800 crore

• PM Modi on Thu inaugurated the program marking National Technology Day 2023 in the national capital.
• The program also marked the commencement of the celebration of the 25^th year of National Technology Day, which will be held from May 11-14.
• The PM also laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple projects related to scientific and technological advancement in the country, of Rs 5800 crore.
• The projects include Laser Interferometer LIGO-India, Hingoli; Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Jatni, Odisha; and Platinum Jubilee Block of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. (here)

Pak Army maintaining high number of terrorists in launchpads along LoC

• Amid an ongoing internal strike, the Pakistan army is maintaining a high number of terrorists in multiple launchpads along the Line of Control (LoC) with India.
• Sources-“Pakistan is maintaining a high number of terrorists in the multiple launchpads along the LoC with India,” sources in the security establishment said.
• As per the agency inputs, different groups of terrorists numbering between 10-20 are waiting at the launchpads in Neelam Valley, Leepa Valley and the Jhelum Valley.
• “There has been no reduction in troop numbers by the Pakistan Army as they maintain a sizeable number in Cantonment land to deal with such issues.”
• The activities of the Pakistan Army on the LoC have slowed down but there is neither reduction nor an increase in the number of troops deployed there, the sources said.
• Pakistani FM Bilawal Bhutto, last week issued an apparent threat to the G-20 meeting in Kashmir saying that “Waqt aane par aisa jawab denge….” during his presser (here)
• Pakistan has strongly protested India’s decision to hold Group of 20 meetings in the J&K later this month, and urged New Delhi not to misuse its position as chair of the body of the world’s largest economies to “advance their own national agenda”. (here)

Delhi govt ought to have control of services subject to exclusions on public order, police, land: SC

• The Supreme Court on Thu ruled in favor of the Delhi govt over control of services in the national capital and held it must have control over bureaucrats.
• However, the constitutional bench of SC said the legislative power over services excludes public order, police, and land.
• The SC gave its verdict in the case related to the administrative control over transfers and postings of civil servants in Delhi.
• Delhi govt similar to other States represents the representative form of govt and any further expansion of the Union’s power will be contrary to the Constitution, said SC.
• On Feb 14, 2019, a 2-judge bench of the SC delivered a split verdict on the question of powers of the Govt of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union govt. (here)

Shinde govt gets relief; SC says Maha Governor erred, but court can’t restore MVA govt

• The SC on Thu said that it cannot disqualify the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra govt and rejected the submission to restore Thackeray as CM
• The reason given by the court is the latter had chosen to resign instead of facing a test of strength in the assembly.
• After the verdict, Thackeray said that people who had left his party had no right to ask him questions, and if Shinde has any morality he should submit his resignation.
• A 5-member Constitution bench, which had been hearing a batch of petitions ruled that the exercise of discretion by the then Governor to conduct a Floor Test was not by the Constitution of India.
• The bench also said that the Speaker’s decision to appoint Bharat Gogawale a whip of the Eknath Shinde group was wrong. (here)

Tamil Nadu Cabinet reshuffle: TRB Rajaa sworn in as minister, PTR moved to IT ministry

• Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin on Thu expanded his cabinet for the 2^nd time since assuming office on May 7, 2021.
• Palanivel Thiaga Rajan was divested of the Fin and Human Resources portfolio and made the Minister for IT in the reshuffle of the Tamil Nadu Cabinet.
• Thangam Thennarasu, who was the Min for Industries, has been made the Minister for Finance and HR in place of PTR.
• Recently, the BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai released audio tapes purportedly of Palanivel Thiaga Rajan accusing Stalin’s family of “corruption”. (here)

NIA conducts raid in Delhi in Kerala train arson attack case

• The National Investigation Agency on Thu conducted searches in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh in this year’s April 2 Elathur train arson attack case.
• The NIA carried out searches in the case which was taken over by NIA from Kerala Police and charged the “highly radicalized” accused Shahrukh Safi.
• It was a clear case of terror linking many states, the NIA invoked the UAPA based on doubts that the accused was sent to Kerala by his handlers and he got enough local help.
• As per officials, there was a preplanned conspiracy behind the crime and it was not a single-man mission as confessed by Saifi, a native of Shaheen Bagh in Delhi.
• During interrogation by SIT, Saifi provided contradictory statements in which initially, he had said he was being used by someone and later retracted (here)
• Fake currency seizure case involving D-Company: NIA raids 6 places in Mumbai – NIA has recovered incriminating materials at 6 locations on Wed in the 2021 Naupada case relating to the seizure of high-quality Fake Indian Currency Notes, the agency said on Thu
• The recovery included sharp-edged weapons, digital devices, and documents, which is a strong validation of its earlier findings establishing a direct connection with the D-Company in the fake currency racket.
• Thus the role of the D-Company has been prima facie established in the circulation of FICN in India during the NIA investigation into the case, said the agency on Thu.
• The case related to the seizure of counterfeit currency notes of Rs 2,000 denomination. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan: Imran Khan’s Arrest and Turmoils in the Country

• SC finds Imran’s arrest was unlawful, asked to present before Isslmabad HC today (Fri)
• SC orders his immediate release
• When Khan requested to be allowed to return to his residence, the top court responded by stating that his safety and security were of paramount concern and that he would remain in the custody of the court at the Police Lines guesthouse.
• Govt terms it ‘fastest relief’
• Top PTI leadership, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, arrested in Islamabad for ‘inciting violent protests’; 7 cases filed against them
• PTI leader Shireen Mazari arrested in a late-night raid at home under MPO
• At least 8 killed across the country in clashes between police, protesters [Reuters: 3-5]
• Mobile internet, and social media shutdown continues for 3^rd day
• More than 1,600 miscreants arrested in Punjab for vandalism
• For the 1^st time, the army find in hot water in domestic affairs
• Protests against the arrest were seen at Pakistan’s embassies in US and UK
• The US State Department’s on Thu raised concern over human rights and press freedom issues in Pakistan.

National Assembly’s term can be extended by six months in the current situation

• According to very reliable political sources, there are whispers around saying the national assembly’s term can be extended by six months in the current situation.
• A caretaker set-up is also under consideration for 2 years if the situation demands later.
• Soon a meeting might be convened by the policymakers to discuss deteriorating conditions in the country which can also discuss the possibility of emergency and other options. (Awami Awaz)

PNS Tipu Sultan and PNS Shahjahan have joined the fleet of the Pakistan Navy

• Two warships manufactured in China PNS Tipu Sultan and PNS Shahjahan have joined the fleet of the Pakistan Navy.
• According to the details, the prestigious commissioning ceremony of 2 modern warships PNS Tipu Sultan and PNS Shahjahan built for Pakistan was held at Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, China. (ARY News Daily)

China not invited to EU, Indo-Pacific policy talks in Sweden – but it will loom over them

• 60 ministers from around the Indo-Pacific and Europe will descend on Stockholm this Sat to debate issues ranging from the South China Sea to security and Taiwan.
• But two of the biggest actors in this particular theatre – mainland China and Taiwan – will not be present.
• “China has never engaged with any partners in the framework of Indo-Pacific concepts, which it explicitly criticizes,” said a senior EU official when asked why China was not invited, even though it looms large over the discussions.
• Taiwan, on the other hand, is excluded from all official state engagements – including this 2^nd annual Indo-Pacific ministerial forum – by the EU’s one-China policy.
• The first such forum took place on the eve of Russia’s invasion, which has since become a dominant issue in any EU foreign policy engagement.
• This year, the Europeans would tip-toe around crucial issues such as Ukraine but also Taiwan, said a diplomat, because they wanted to make sure attendees from Asia and East Africa “come back next year”.
• There will, therefore, be no pressure for attendees to criticize Russia, amid resistance from some non-European nations against the idea of taking a side. (here)

Top US and China envoys meet in Vienna, the highest in-person engagement since Xi and Biden in Nov

• US NSA Jake Sullivan held “candid” talks on Taiwan and the Russian war in Ukraine with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi for 2 days this week
• This is the highest-level US-China engagement since Presidents Xi and Biden met last year.
• In Vienna, Austria, “the two sides had candid, substantive, and constructive discussions on key issues in the US-China bilateral relationship, global and regional security issues, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and cross-strait issues, among other topics”, the WH.
• “This meeting was part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage competition,” it added.
• A senior Biden administration official briefing reporters after the meeting in Vienna said Sullivan and Wang met for more than 8 hours over the two days.
• “Wang Yi comprehensively elaborated on China’s solemn position on the Taiwan issue,” Xinhua added.
• The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern, such as the Asia-Pacific situation and Ukraine. (here)