1. Rajya Sabha Election Result 2024 – ‘Look into yourself’: Cong after BJP wins Himachal seat
2. Himachal Pradesh: Day After Rajya Sabha Stunner, BJP Seeks Trust Vote
3. PM Modi announces names of four astronauts for Gaganyaan Mission: 
4. Amended Citizenship Rules likely to be enforced from next month: Sources
5. Indian Diplomats were “Threatened, Intimidated” in Canada: S Jaishankar

What Else

• India among fastest growing diplomatic networks, 11 new posts since 2021, reveals new report
• Civilian Crew Replacing Indian Military Personnel Arrives In Maldives
• India’s top court slaps ban on Patanjali medicine ads for misleading claims
• Indian govt extends ban on Jamaat-e-Islami by five years
• Indian subcontinent mid-water apprehension, Navy seizes 3100 Kg Narcotics in Arabian Sea
• Pakistan: PTI gives nationwide protest call against poll ‘rigging’ on Mar 2nd
• Article 91 does not bar from convening NA session, caretakers tell President Alvi
• Schedule for presidential poll due on Mar 1st, says ECP
• Advanced satellites, space station, and historic moon mission: China’s rocket launches will increase 50% this year

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Rajya Sabha Election Result 2024 – ‘Look into yourself’: Cong after BJP wins Himachal seat

• The results for the Upper House election in the states of Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh were declared while counting was still underway in Uttar Pradesh.
• Voting for 15 Rajya Sabha seats across these three states took place on Tue.
• Out of the 56 Rajya Sabha seats contested, 41 members have secured their positions in the upper house without facing opposition.
• Elections were held for the remaining seats in the RS: 10 in UP, 4 in Karnataka, and 1 in Himachal Pradesh.
• In Karnataka, the Congress won all 3 seats it contested, while the BJP bagged one seat.
• Congress candidates Ajay Maken, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, and GC Chandrashekhar won with 47, 46, and 46 votes respectively.
• On the other hand, BJP’s Narayana Bandage won the lone seat.
• Meanwhile, in HP, BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan secured the seat in the Congress-ruled state.
• In UP, the BJP won 8 candidates, while the SP presented 2 for the 10 RS seats. (here)
• Congress and SP MLAs have cross-voted in droves during the polls, bringing the INDIA bloc under huge pressure ahead of the general election.
• The beneficiary is the BJP, which stands to gain 2 extra seats (here)

Himachal Pradesh: Day After Rajya Sabha Stunner, BJP Seeks Trust Vote

• The Leader of the Opposition Wed’ morning met HP Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, seeking a test of strength for the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led govt in the Assembly.
• The BJP’s win was the result of cross-voting by Congress MLAs and a draw of lots that went in its favor.
• The BJP MLAs yesterday demanded a division of votes for passing the state Budget instead of a voice vote.
• If allowed, the division of votes would establish the actual support of each party.
• Should the Congress government fail to get the Budget passed, it would automatically prove that it lacks a majority in the House. (here)

PM Modi announces names of four astronauts for Gaganyaan Mission: 

• PM Modi on Tue conducted a thorough review of the progress made in the Gaganyaan Mission and conferred astronaut wings upon the designated astronauts.
• The Gaganyaan Mission marks India’s inaugural human space flight program, for which extensive preparations are underway across various ISRO centers.
• Moreover, PM Modi also unveiled the names of the 4 pilots selected for a maiden manned space mission.
• The names of designated astronauts: Grp Cap Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Grp Cap Ajit Krishnan, Grp Cap Angad Pratap, and Wg Commander Subhanshu Shukla.
• It is to be noted that the Indian Space Research Organisation is targeting a launch window between 2024 and 2025 for this ambitious endeavor. (here)
• PM invokes Jayalalithaa’s Legacy: “Worked for Development, Prosperity”: Invoking the legacy of MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, PM Modi called the former Tamil Nadu CM MGR a “true leader,” and hailed MGR’s commitment to governance devoid of “dynasty politics”.
• Addressing a rally in Tamil Nadu’s Tirupur district on Tue, PM Modi emphasized the pivotal role of the state in shaping India’s future.
• He added that the way the DMK has been working in TN is an insult to MGR Sahib.
• PM Modi is on a 2-day visit to the southern states of Kerala and TN. (here)

Amended Citizenship Rules likely to be enforced from next month: Sources

• The contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, which gives citizenship to religious minorities from 3 neighboring countries who settled in India before Dec 31, 2014, is likely to come into effect next month, 4 years after it was passed.
• Sources – the online portal is ready for registrations and dry runs have already been done by the Union Home Ministry.
• The rule applies to minorities (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Christian) from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and B’desh and will be implemented before the model code of conduct.
• The timing is crucial, given the approaching election.
• Non-implementation of the law would have caused it to lapse. The time window extended till the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
• The implementation of the CAA was a key electoral agenda in the 2019 Lok Sabha election and assembly elections in Bengal, where the ruling TMC was opposed to it.
• Over the last 2 years, over 30 District Magistrates and Home Secretaries of 9 states were given powers to grant citizenship to minorities coming from 3 neighboring counties under the Citizenship Act, 1955. (here)

Indian Diplomats were “Threatened, Intimidated” in Canada: S Jaishankar

• India expects action against the culprits involved in last year’s attacks on its HC in London and consulate in San Francisco as well as those involved in threatening the Indian diplomats in Canada, EAM S Jaishankar on Mon said.
• The EAM said India had to suspend the issuance of visas in Canada as its diplomats were repeatedly “threatened and intimidated in many ways” and we “got very little comfort from the Canadian system that time”.
• In Sept last year, India temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens, a move that came days after PM Justin Trudeau alleged a “potential” association of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
• The visa services were resumed several weeks later.
• India strongly rejected the allegations.
• “Our diplomats were repeatedly threatened. They were intimidated in many ways and we got very little comfort from the Canadian system that time,” Mr Jaishankar said.
• Mr Jaishankar said the situation has improved since then. (here)

India among fastest growing diplomatic networks, 11 new posts since 2021, reveals new report

• India has among the fastest-growing diplomatic networks in the world with 11 new posts since 2021 mostly in Africa, as per the 2024 Global Diplomacy Index
• With a total of 194 diplomatic posts, India has jumped to the 11^th rank in the Index — ahead of Canada, Spain, and South Korea.   
• The report released Sun shows that over 75% of new diplomatic posts opened by India since 2021 were in Africa.
• In 2014, the MEA created a list of countries that no Indian minister had visited in years, mainly in “untapped regions” like Africa and Latin America.
• This comes at a time when India has been trying to position itself as the voice of the Global South, as espoused throughout its G20 President last year. (here)

Civilian Crew Replacing Indian Military Personnel Arrives In Maldives

• The Maldives’ Ministry of Defence on Mon said that the first batch of Indian civilians had landed and would replace Indian uniformed military pilots and technical crew.
• “The civilian crew who will operate the helicopter in place of the Indian troops currently stationed in Seenu Gan [Addu City] has arrived in Maldives this evening,” the ministry said in a statement.
• The formal process of handover to civilians has now begun for the Indian military stationed at Gan International Airport.
• In Feb, after meeting their Indian counterparts, the Maldivian FM had said that it would replace its military personnel operating in 3 aviation platforms by May 10.
• India’s MEA had then said that both sides “had agreed on a set of mutually workable solutions” that provide humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people.
• At least 75 Indian military personnel are believed to be in Maldives.
• They are involved in transporting patients from remote islands and rescuing people.
• Earlier, the Indian govt had given Maldives a Dornier airplane and 2 helicopters (here)

India’s top court slaps ban on Patanjali medicine ads for misleading claims

• The Supreme Court of India on Tue slapped an interim ban on ads of Patanjali Ayurved’s medicines, a company co-owned by self-styled yoga guru Baba Ramdev.
• The top court observed the company can’t make claims that their medicines would treat ailments specified in the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advts) Act.
• The apex court also issued contempt of court notices to Ramdev and Balkrishna, the other co-owner, for ignoring its previous orders regarding false and misleading claims.
• The court in Nov had threatened to impose a fine of $120,000/false claim.
• “You (Patanjali Ayurved) had the courage to come up with this advertisement after the order of this court! Permanent relief… what do you mean by permanent relief? Is it a cure? You can’t say your medicines/drugs cure a particular disease,” the court observed.
• “How can Patanjali claim to completely cure blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, and obesity?” the court asked.
• The bench was hearing the case filed by the Indian Medical Association against an “alleged” smear campaign by Ramdev against COVID vaccines and allopathy
• “You (Patanjali) cannot criticize any other method of treatment like allopathy,” it noted. (here)

Indian govt extends ban on Jamaat-e-Islami by five years

• The central govt has declared Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir as an ‘Unlawful Association’ for a further period of 5 years under Section 3(1) of the UAPA 1967.
• India’s Ministry of Home Affairs on Tue extended the ban on JeI, J&K by 5 years.
• The extension of the ban would come into effect immediately.
• Union HM Shah took to social media platforms to announce the extension of the ban.
• His post had a link to the gazette notification.
• The MHA has said that JeI had close ties with terrorist outfits and it supports extremism and terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The group said the MHA supports calls for the secession of J&K from India. (here)

Indian subcontinent mid-water apprehension, Navy seizes 3100 Kg Narcotics in Arabian Sea

• The Indian Navy in a joint operation along with the ATS Gujarat and the NCB, reportedly seized around 3100 kg of narcotics from a boat, making it the largest mid-water apprehension of narcotics in the Indian subcontinent.
• The vessel was intercepted by the Indian security forces and enforcement agencies near the International Maritime Boundary Line off the coast of Gujarat in the Arabian Sea.
• Reports suggest that the Indian agencies seized the boat and held 5 Pakistani crew members onboard the boat.
• This significant operation, conducted near the IMBL in the Arabian Sea, underscores the relentless efforts of Indian authorities to combat the illicit drug trade. (here)

 [Neighborhood]

Pakistan: PTI gives nationwide protest call against poll ‘rigging’ on Mar 2^nd

• PTI on Tue gave a call for a countrywide protest on Mar 2^nd against the “alleged rigging” in the general elections 2024, saying that other political parties will also join them.
• In a presser after meeting PTI founder Imran Khan, Secy Gen, Omar Ayub, who is also the party’s candidate for the PM’s slot, lamented “large scale” rigging in the polls.
• He said PTI would stage countrywide protests against the “rigging” in polls alongside other political parties.
• “Our seats were stolen with just a stroke of pen. The people gave the mandate to the former PTI chairman. Nation’s mandate and our seats have been attacked,” Ayub said.
• He said that the successful PTI-backed candidate had the Form-45s.
• Party leaders met the PTI founder, who is incarcerated at the prison, and he is “confident” of the party’s stance.
• Meanwhile, PML-N and PPP — the 2^nd  and 3^rd largest parties in the polls in terms of numbers — have decided to form the govt in the Centre, Punjab, and Balochistan (here)
• Imran nominates Amir Dogar for National Assembly speaker: Ayub on Tue said Imran Khan had nominated Amir Dogar for the position of NA speaker while Junaid Khan was picked for the slot of deputy speaker. (here)
• Fazl foresees system collapsing as ‘establishment wants govt of their choice’: As the 2024 election results drew criticism from different political parties, JUI-F supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman continued picking apart the Feb 8 polls besides predicting that the “system would collapse” as “establishment wants govt of their choice.”
• “Establishment wants assemblies and people in them of their choice,” Fazlur alleged while addressing a press alongside other party leaders in Peshawar on Tue. (here)
• The GDA, JI, and JUI-F have demanded fresh elections, warning that their protests against alleged rigging in the Feb 8 general elections will intensify otherwise. (here)

Article 91 does not bar from convening NA session, caretakers tell President Alvi

• The caretaker federal govt has responded to President Arif Alvi’s letter, saying that Article 91 of the Constitution does not bar from summoning the National Assembly while the House is incomplete, according to sources.
• “President can only stop the routine [NA] session under Article 54,” sources quoted the caretaker govt as saying in the letter.
• They said the caretaker govt has requested the president to review his decision of returning the summary seeking convening of the NA session.
• The caretakers maintained that it is not the prerogative or discretion of the president to stop the convening of the NA session under Article 91, they added.
• President ‘once again’ trying to violate Constitution: In a presser in Islamabad, PML-N leader Dar said that President Alvi was “once again” trying to violate the Constitution.
• President Alvi’s stonewalling of NA session justified, says PTI founder: PTI founder Imran Khan Tue termed the President’s decision to not summon the NA session justified.
• The party’s founder, in conversation with journalists at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, said his party won the general elections but reserved seats are not being given to it.
• “May 9 was used to end the party. The party did not end due to oppression but became the strongest party,” he maintained. (here)

Schedule for presidential poll due on Mar 1^st, says ECP

• The Election Commission of Pakistan will announce the schedule for the presidential election on March 1.
• According to a proposed program, candidates will be able to submit their nomination papers to the presiding officer by noon on Mar 2.
• The ECP said all aspiring candidates can get their nomination papers from the Election Commission Secretariat in Islamabad and the provincial election commissioners of Punjab, Sindh, KP and Balochistan.
• It said that all the assemblies will come into being by Feb 29 and then the electoral college — required for the election of the President — will be completed.
• As per the constitutional mandate outlined in Article 41(4), the election for the president must take place within 30 days after the general elections. (here)

Advanced satellites, space station, and historic moon mission: China’s rocket launches will increase 50% this year

• China is planning 100 launches to send more than 300 spacecraft into orbit in 2024 – a new national record and a sharp rise from last year.
• Among them, about 70 launches will be conducted by the China Aerospace Corp (CASC), the country’s main space contractor revealed in its annual blue book on Mon.
• The others will be commercial launches.
• It represents a 50% increase from last year’s 67 launches in total.
• The ratio of govt versus private launch attempts remains the same, however, despite China’s rapidly expanding commercial space sector.
• Commercial US spacecraft touches down on the moon in a historic first for private industry
• Major missions this year will include two crewed and two cargo flights to the Tiangong space station in low-Earth orbit, according to the Blue Book. (here)