1. PM Modi in LS on Vote of Thanks: Our 3rd will be to take some big decision
2. Champai Soren wins Jharkhand floor test 47-29, arrested Hemant Soren present
3. India proposes $14 bn budget for J&K, dwarfing Pakistan’s $3 billion IMF bailout
4. NIA chargesheets 3 Myanmar nationals in international human trafficking case
5. CM Dhami tables UCC in Uttarakhand assembly today, BJP, Congress fireworks likely

What Else

• Delegation of 25 religious leaders meet PM, Dhankar
• Intelligence Agencies Warn of Suicide Drone Attack by Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir
• Armenia sees India, France as its key partners in defence
• Greece: Mitsotakis, business delegation to visit India on Feb 20-24
• Ghatkopar Maulana held for Hate Speech in Mumbai Taken to Gujarat on Transit Remand
• Nijjar killing: India will not aid probe till Canada gives evidence, says Indian envoy
• General Upendra Dwivedi to take over as army vice chief
• ‘Not like chapati, but puri’: US official on India-US trade ties
• Maldives: President Muizzu calls to fortify military capabilities
• Australian academic Yang Hengjun given suspended death sentence by Chinese court
• China’s massive bot army battled with US on X in clash over spy balloons in 2023: Study
• 10 cops martyred, 6 injured in attack on police station in DI Khan

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PM Modi in LS on Vote of Thanks: Our 3^rd will be to take some big decision

• PM Modi on Mon exuded confidence that India will become the third largest economy in the world during his “third” tenure.
• Replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, he said that in his “3^rd term”, the govt will take a “big decision” and lay the foundation of a prosperous India for 1,000 years.
• The general elections are due in Apr-May.
• “I say with confidence that in our third term, India will become the third largest economy in the world. This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said.
• In Sept 2022, India overtook the UK to become the 5^th-largest economy in the world.
• He also said that during the UPA govt in 2014, India was the 11^th largest economy.
• “And today, it is the 5^th largest economy and on its way to becoming the 3^rd largest,” PM said, adding that it is because of the speed with which the country is progressing. (here)

Champai Soren wins Jharkhand floor test 47-29, arrested Hemant Soren present

• Jharkhand CM Champai Soren on Mon won the floor test in assembly as a total of 47 coalition MLAs supported him during the trust vote, against the 29 votes.
• Champai Soren’s victory was announced by Governor CP Radhakrishnan.
• It was welcomed with loud cheers in the Jharkhand assembly.
• The House has been adjourned for the day and will resume on Tue.
• CM Champai Soren moved the motion and then attacked the BJP, saying the saffron party attempted to “destabilize” the elected state govt.
• He also gave arrested and former CM Hemant Soren a clean chit, saying he is being pulled up for a crime he did not commit.
• Hemant Soren, who is currently in the custody of the ED in an alleged land scam, was also present for a vote after a Court permitted him to participate in the same (here)

India proposes $14 bn budget for J&K, dwarfing Pakistan’s $3 billion IMF bailout

• India has announced the interim budget for the union territory J&K around $14.16 bn.
• While Pakistan is seeking a $3 billion bailout from the IMF, significantly surpasses the financial assistance provided to Pakistan by the IMF.
• This significant budget demonstrates India’s intention to address both short-term fiscal needs and long-term development goals in Jammu and Kashmir. 
• India’s budget for UT emphasizes key sectors such as agriculture, rural development, tourism, healthcare, education, and cultural preservation.
• The emphasis on tourism in J&K has been directed towards enhancing infra and essential facilities in 20 lesser-known tourist spots, evenly distributed with 10 locations.
• Plans include the makeover of Keran into a thriving border tourist village and the formation of Duggar Dani in Samba, designed as a traditional mock village setup (here)
• “Consequences of Pakistan coming out of the FATF black list”: Videos released on social media with the quote, “Consequences of Pakistan coming out of the FATF black list” showing that terrorist groups started holding public rallies on Mon in Rawalkot, PoJK, and the outlawed groups JeM and LeT participated in a Kashmir solidarity march
• Pakistan: Violation of Pakistan’s territorial sovereignty to be dealt with full might, COAS: Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir on Mon said that any aggression or violation of territorial sovereignty would be responded to with “full national resolve and military might”.
• His remarks came as the nation observes Kashmir Solidarity Day to reaffirm unwavering support for the relentless struggle of the Kashmiri people.
• The people and the govt of Pakistan and AJK (PoK) observe Solidarity Day every year not only to renew their love and affection with the people of J&K but also to reiterate their commitment and dedication to the liberation of Kashmir from Indian subjugation.
• According to a press release of ISPR, the army chief laid a floral wreath at the Martyrs’ Monument in Muzaffarabad and paid tribute to the supreme sacrifices of martyrs.
• Meanwhile, interim PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar said that this was an occasion to pay rich tribute to the sacrifices made by the Kashmiris during the last 76 years. (here)

NIA chargesheets 3 Myanmar nationals in international human trafficking case

• The NIA has charge-sheeted 3 Myanmaries in a major human trafficking case involving the illegal infiltration and trafficking, mainly of Rohingya, into India via the Indo-B’desh border.
• All accused are permanent residents of Myanmar’s Maungdaw district.
• The 3 accused had entered India illegally, in collusion with traffickers and touts, without valid travel documents.
• As part of a well-organized network and touts involved in various illegal activities, they were also engaged in luring vulnerable Rohingya women, who had taken refuge in Bangladesh, into India on the false promises of marriage to Rohingya men. (here)
• Indian NSA Ajit Doval was on a visit to Dhaka over the weekend; During the visit, he met Bangladesh PM Hasina and other official
• NSA Doval’s visit is the first visit of a high-ranking Indian official to Dhaka since Hasina’s victory.
• Earlier, EAM Jaishankar and the new Bangladesh FM met in Uganda on the sidelines of NAM summit meetings. Bangladesh FM travels to Delhi this week.

CM Dhami tables UCC in Uttarakhand assembly today, BJP, Congress fireworks likely

• Uttarakhand will become the first state after Independence to adopt the Uniform Civil Code, after Goa, where it has been operational since the time of Portuguese rule.
• The UCC will apply to all religious communities in India on matters of marriage, inheritance, divorce, adoption, maintenance, and others.
• The 800-page report submitted by the 5-member committee to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami recommends exempting tribal communities from its purview
• Focus was made on women’s empowerment, including banning polygamy and forming a uniform marriage age across religions.
• Moreover, practices such as Halala, Iddat, and Triple Talaq [already Banned] under Muslim personal law will be punishable offenses in the report submitted by the panel.
• The UCC is likely to regulate live-in relationships.
• Once the Assembly approves the final draft in the session beginning today, the Bill will become a “model” for other states such as Gujarat and Assam to adopt. (here)

Delegation of 25 religious leaders meet PM, Dhankar

• Chief Imam of AIIO and other minority section religious leaders reached Parliament to meet PM Modi on Feb  5.
• They are also set to meet Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and watch the proceedings of the Parliament.
• Himani Sood, the founder of the Indian Minority Foundation said that the religious leaders want to tell the world that India is one. (here)

Intelligence Agencies Warn of Suicide Drone Attack by Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir

• Intelligence agencies in J&K have warned of possible drone attack by terrorists on the security forces.
• The alert has further warned that the scale of the attack would be more sophisticated than what the terrorists have used in the Jammu Air Force station attack in 2021
• Post-Oct 2021, the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu have witnessed a series of terror attacks targeted at the Indian Army, resulting in the loss of 33 soldiers.
• It all began on Oct 11, 2021, with an assault on the RR Unit in Poonch’s Dera Ki Gali area, claiming the lives of 5 Army personnel, including a JCO.
• Subsequent attacks occurred on Oct 15, ‘21, Apr 20, ‘23, and Aug 11, ‘22, in Poonch and Rajouri, resulting in more casualties among the Rashtriya Rifles Unit. (here)

Armenia sees India, France as its key partners in defence

• Armenia considers India and France as its key partners in the defense sphere, Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan said.
• “..we have acquired new partners and established relations with many superpowers. In particular, India and France have become our main partners in the defense,” he said.
• According to the minister, the diversification process is irreversible.
• He that the country’s new contracts and reforms would have a positive effect on the quality of the country’s weapons. (here)

Greece: Mitsotakis, business delegation to visit India on Feb 20-24

• With Greece recovering investment grade status and its effects already working like a tailwind, the effort to diversify the Greek economy is picking up pace.
• Important missions to India and Serbia include a large group of Greek businessmen.
• They are being organized by the Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Extroversion, Kostas Fragogiannis, and the Foreign Ministry and Enterprise Greece.
• The PM’s interest in the mission to Turkey is intense, as well as to India.
• Especially for the latter, as the large business mission is organized for PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who will also appear as a central guest at the annual Raisina Dialogue
• The mission will have 3 issues: New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore since the 1^st city is the political center, the 2^nd the commercial one, and the 3^rd the technological one.
• Greek exports were € 234.7 mn, and imports from India reached € 1.08 bn (here)

Ghatkopar Maulana held for Hate Speech in Mumbai Taken to Gujarat on Transit Remand

• Gujarat Police obtained a 2-day transit remand of Islamic Preacher Mufti Salman Azhari from a Mumbai court in an alleged hate speech case.
• After nabbing Azhari on Sun, the Gujarat police took him to Ghatkopar police station.
• Earlier in the day, a Gujarati police squad arrived in Mumbai and apprehended Mufti Salman Azhari in connection with an alleged hate speech case.
• After he was escorted to Ghatkopar Police Station, a big throng gathered outside to demand his release.
• However, the Mumbai Police reported that the gathering had been dispersed and brought under control.
• After Azhari’s arrest, the National spox of AIMIM stated that the preacher had not delivered any controversial statement and that he should be treated fairly. (here)

Nijjar killing: India will not aid probe till Canada gives evidence, says Indian envoy

• India is not going to aid Canadian investigators in their probe into the killing of pro-Khalistani terrorist Nijjar till Ottawa shares all the evidence behind the allegation
• This comes days after Canadian NSA Jody Thomas claimed there was “evolution” in India’s position on the probe and that New Delhi “is now cooperating”
• India now cooperating with Nijjar probe: Thomas in an interview with The Globe and Mail, India’s HC to Canada Sanjay Verma said Ottawa has not shown any evidence that ties it to slaying, adding that this was the pre-condition to any cooperation (here)

General Upendra Dwivedi to take over as army vice chief

• The two generals will swap positions, with Kumar moving to the Udhampur-based Northern Command as its GOC-in-Chief next week, the officials said on anonymity
• Dwivedi is the frontrunner for the post of army chief as he will be the senior-most general when Gen Manoj Pande retires on May 31, 2024.
• He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa, National Defence Academy, and Indian Military Academy.
• He took charge of the operationally critical Northern Command in Feb 2022.
• Dwivedi has earlier served as a deputy chief in the Army Headquarters, the GOC of the Yol-based HQs 9 Corps, and director general of infantry.
• He was commissioned into the 18^th Battalion of the J&K Rifles in Dec 1984.
• The Northern Command is responsible for guarding the country’s borders with Pakistan and China in the north and is the nerve center of CT operations in J&K (here)

‘Not like chapati, but puri’: US official on India-US trade ties

• United States Assistant Secretary of state for Energy Resources Geoffrey R Pyatt on Mon used some choice words to describe the nature of the US-India trade relationship.
• While admitting that the US and India are not currently engaged in any kind of FTA negotiations, Pyatt said, “Nobody today characterizes their trade relationship as flat as a ‘chapati’.
• It has become big and puffed up like a big ‘puri’ … we have ongoing and important negotiations about how to facilitate a further deepening of our trade relationship.”
• He went on to say that the US and India have a very strong focus on energy transition and there is a lot of synergy between the nations to ensure an alternative supply chain, especially for renewables. (here)

[Neighborhood]

Maldives: President Muizzu calls to fortify military capabilities

• President Mohamed Muizzu on Mon stressed the need to fortify the military capabilities of the nation and augment its modern capabilities for a comprehensive defense strategy covering terrestrial, aerial, and maritime domains.
• He also stressed that the defense force is “on the verge of achieving round-the-clock surveillance capabilities over the nation’s 900,000 km² Exclusive Economic Zone“.
• The nation’s two main opposition parties–the MDP and the DP–chose not to attend the presidential statement scheduled for Mon, with A total of 56 MPs boycotted.
• In his address, Muizzu further emphasized that while “safeguarding our nation’s sovereignty, the primary commitment in governance will be to place the welfare of the people and the nation at the forefront, guided by the ‘Pro Maldives’ principle”.
• The President stated that the “Maldivian govt has officially communicated that it will not renew the agreement enabling foreign nations to measure and map the Maldivian oceans and coastlines.” [Except China?]
• Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and 2 HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives. (here)

Australian academic Yang Hengjun given suspended death sentence by Chinese court

• The Australian academic Yang Hengjun has been given a suspended death sentence by a Chinese court, after 5 years in detention on espionage charges.
• His sentence came on the same day that the women’s rights activist Li Qiaochu was sentenced to 3 years and 8 months by a court in Shandong for “inciting subversion of state power”.
• Yang was arrested in 2019 at Guangzhou airport, accused of spying for an undisclosed foreign country.
• The 57-year-old pro-democracy blogger is an Australian native who was born in China.
• He was tried in a 1-day, closed-door hearing in Beijing in May 2021, with a verdict not publicly disclosed.
• Yang’s family was shocked and devastated by the court’s decision, with a spox describing it as being at the “extreme end of worst expectations”. (here)

China’s massive bot army battled with US on X in clash over spy balloons in 2023: Study

• Amid the US and China’s intense diplomatic showdown over the spy balloons last year, lakhs of bots were battling on X, to sway public opinion, an analysis has revealed.
• The bots were deployed to shape the debate around the spy balloon incident, with most of them toeing the official narrative of Beijing.
• Two researchers at CM University in Pennsylvania tracked more than 1.2 million posts on X made between Jan 31 and 22 Feb 2023.
• The research showed these posts were made by 120,000 users and contained hashtags like #chineseballoon and #weatherballoon.
• The researchers used X’s location feature to geo-locate the posts and deployed an algorithm called BotHunter, which identifies whether an account is behaving like a bot or a human.
• Meanwhile, of those accounts geo-tagged for locations outside the US and China, 42% were bots and 58% were humans.
• The researchers steered clear of speculating who was operating these bots but experts believe it could be a mix of both state-backed and individual actors. (here)

10 cops martyred, 6 injured in attack on police station in DI Khan

• Ten cops were martyred while six were injured in a late-night attack on the Chodwan police station in Dera Ismail Khan on Mon, police said.
• This comes 3 days before the general elections are scheduled to take place on Feb 8
• “More than 30 terrorists launched an attack from 3 directions. There was an exchange of fire for over two-and-a-half hours,” KP police chief told AFP.
• Police chief told AFP the attackers briefly seized control of the police station during the assault in the early hours of Mon.
• Reuters- after entering the building, the militants “used hand grenades which caused more casualties to the police”.
• The Election Commission and the security apparatus reviewed the law and order situation last week, stating that polls would be held at their scheduled time. (here)