1. India tests Nirbhay cruise missile with indigenous propulsion system in big leap
2. Election 2024: World’s largest election kicks off: Long queues in many states, sporadic clashes in West Bengal
3. Israel-Iran War: Israel launches missile attack; Iran activates air defenses, suspends flights
4. ISRO to continue lunar mission until an Indian lands on Moon: S Somanath
5. India to get Bullet Train speeding past 250 km/h soon, to be built on VB platform

What Else

• ‘There is a clear religious part’ to strife in Manipur: UK ex-PM David Cameron
• India to deliver BrahMos missile system to Philippines Today (Fri)
• Vice Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi appointed as new Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
• Philippines to probe influx of Chinese students in province close to Taiwan, military concerned over ‘legality’ of stay
• All 5 foreign nationals safe in Karachi suicide attack, say police
• Pakistan: We shouldn’t fight with our neighbors, says CM Maryam Sharif at Kartarpur Sahib
• US, Pakistan discuss ‘recent events in region’
• Ukraine war: at G7, Blinken seeks European support to pressure China over alleged support for Russia

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India tests Nirbhay cruise missile with indigenous propulsion system in big leap

• The long-range Nirbhay cruise missile – Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile with an indigenous propulsion system and the Manik turbofan engine, was successfully test-fired off the Odisha coast on Thu.
• The missile is indigenously developed by Bengaluru-based DRDO laboratory Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).
• The test was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
• This successful flight test also established the reliable performance of the indigenous propulsion system developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Bengaluru.
• During the test, all subsystems of the weapon performed as per expectations.
• The missile performance was monitored by several Range Sensors like Radar, Electro-Optical Tracking System, and Telemetry to ensure complete coverage of the flight path.
• The missile followed the desired path using waypoint navigation and demonstrated very low-altitude sea-skimming flight.
• The flight of the missile was also monitored by IAF Su-30-Mk-I aircraft.
• The missile is also equipped with advanced avionics and software to ensure better and more reliable performance. (here)

Election 2024: World’s largest election kicks off: Long queues in many states, sporadic clashes in West Bengal

• As 102 seats across 21 States and UTs go to the polls, I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers.
• Tamil Nadu CM Stalin, Rajinikanth Cast Vote: All the 39 seats of Tamil Nadu have gone into polling in the 1^st of the 7-phase Lok Sabha elections on Fri.
• The result of the high-stakes battle between the DMK, BJP, and the AIADMK will be declared on Jun 4.
• After casting his vote, Ex TN CM and Ramanathapuram candidate O Panneerselvam of AIADMK said, “The BJP alliance will definitely win. There is a BJP wave across the country. AIADMK will come back to me…” (here)
• ‘Don’t have to be suspicious about everything’: SC on pleas seeking cross-verification of EVM vote
• The SC on Thu reserved its judgment on petitions seeking cross-verification of votes cast on EVMs with paper slips generated through the Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system, saying “We don’t have to be suspicious about everything”.
• The petitioners have also sought a reversal of the poll panel’s 2017 decision to replace the transparent glass on VVPAT machines with an opaque glass through which a voter can see the slip only when the light is on for 7 seconds. (here)
• Lok Sabha elections: Strong turnout in Arunachal Pradesh despite rain; CM Conrad K Sangma among first to vote in Meghalaya
• Despite light rains in Arunachal Pradesh, voters were seen standing in queues even before polling began.
• Meanwhile, Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma reached the polling booth in Tura at 6.20 am and cast his vote after standing in queue for more than 30 minutes.
• Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have two parliamentary seats each.

Israel-Iran War: Israel launches missile attack; Iran activates air defenses, suspends flights

• Israeli missiles struck a location in Iran late on Thu, following the latter’s drone attack in retaliation for an assault on the Iranian embassy in Syria.
• ‘Loud sound’ was heard in the Isfahan province as multiple flights over the Iranian airspace were diverted amid tensions with Israel, Iranian state TV reported.
• Nuclear facilities unharmed Local media in Iran reported on Fri that nuclear installations in Isfahan, the country’s capital, were ‘completely secure’ following reports of explosions nearby. (here)
• Indian Woman, part of seized cargo ship’s crew, returns home from Iran: Indian deck cadet, Ann Joseph, who was among the 17 crew members of the Israeli-linked cargo ship seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has safely returned home.
• With the combined efforts of the Indian Mission in Tehran and the Iranian govt, the sailor — hailing from Kerala’s Thrissur — landed safely at Cochin Thu
• MEA also noted that the Indian Mission is in contact with the Iranian authorities to ensure the well-being of the rest of the MSC Aries’ crew members
• Indian Mission in Tehran is in constant touch with the remaining 16 Indian crew members of the container vessel.
• MSC Aries was en route to the port of Nhava Sheva in India’s Mumbai and the expected arrival was on the night of Apr 15. (here)
• Iranian envoy to India said, “Indian crew are not detained, they all are free. The Indian crew has got consular access”.

ISRO to continue lunar mission until an Indian lands on Moon: S Somanath

• The Indian Space Research Organisation will continue its Chandrayaan series until an astronaut from the country lands on the Moon, said ISRO Chief S Somanath on Wed.
• Last Aug, the premier space agency’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft made a soft landing on the south pole of the lunar surface, making India the first country to achieve the feat.
• “Chandrayaan 3 has done very well. … Now, we want to continue the Chandrayaan series till an Indian, lands on the Moon,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event.
• On India’s 1^st-ever human space flight mission, Gaganyaan, Somanath said ISRO will carry out an uncrewed mission, a test vehicle flight mission, and an airdrop test this year. (here)
• On the development of the C-C rocket engine nozzle, Somanath says, “It is a technology that we wanted to develop for many years… It’s a Carbon-Carbon nozzle, once you make it out of Carbon-Carbon it gives a weight advantage, It allows us to operate at a higher temperature…We are going to put it in PSLV.”

India to get Bullet Train speeding past 250/km/h soon, to be built on Vande Bharat platform

• India is gearing up to introduce its very own bullet train, capable of zooming past speeds of 250 km per hour, a senior govt official revealed.
• This train is set to outshine all existing trains in the Indian Railways network.
• Furthermore, the high-speed train, currently in the developmental stages, is being built on the Vande Bharat platform, renowned for clocking a max speed of 220 kmph
• Also, it is currently in the making at the Indian Railways’ Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, with designs taking shape rapidly.
• In the global arena, high-speed trains, like the French TGV and the Japanese Shinkansen, are recognized for their ability to cruise at speeds surpassing 250 kmph
• India’s journey towards high-speed rail hasn’t been without international support.
• The Shinkansen E5 series trains, planned for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route, boast speeds of up to 320 kmph.
• The NHSRCL, entrusted with implementing India’s inaugural bullet train venture, recently marked a milestone with the completion of 300 km of pier work. (here)

‘There is a clear religious part’ to strife in Manipur: UK ex-PM David Cameron

• There is a clear religious part to the conflict in Manipur, British foreign secretary and former UK PM David Cameron has told the House of Lords.
• Cameron said in response to a question on Tue, what assessment he has made of the current state of freedom of religion or belief in India in the light of “disturbing reports of violations of freedom of religion or belief in Manipur over the past year”.
• Cameron replied that he had studied a very good report on the Manipur strife written by David Campanale.
• Campanale’s report, written in Jun 2023, states: “It is to be noted that if the conflict is explained by citing ethnic or economic disputes between valley people and tribals from the hills, account still needs to be given as to why churches among both … were destroyed. There is a clear religious dimension.”
• “It is true that India has what is called a secular Constitution,” Lord of Wimbledon said.
• “But since then, we have had the riots in Ayodhya where tens of thousands of Muslims were killed; [when?] then we had the home minister describing the Muslims as termites; then a Hindu temple was built on a razed mosque. Christians have been persecuted again and again, and Sikhs are told [WHO?] that if they behave like Hindus, they are fine; otherwise, they are termed separatists.”
• He asked for freedom of belief to be at the forefront of the Commonwealth Charter.
• Cameron replied: “There have been occasions where it has been something we have raised with the Indian government. That should continue.”
• Lord Purvis of Tweed questioned what kind of market access would be given to India in the UK-India trade deal for media, data, and telecoms. (here)
• Manipur: Cache of illicit weapons seized in Churachandpur dist: Security forces in Manipur recovered a substantial cache of illicit weapons in the Langza area of District.
• Extensive search operations and area domination exercises were conducted in the fringe and vulnerable regions of both the hill and the valley districts.
• A recent operation led to the recovery of one lathode gun, 3 single barrel 12 mm bore rifles, one 9mm CMG (with magazine), one Tear Gas Gun, 14 live ammunition rounds, 2, 38 mm Anti-riot Cartridges with rubber bullets.
• The seizure also included 3 Tear Smoke shells (CS), 2 improvised Long-range Mortars, and one improvised Long-range Mortar Ammunition. (here)

India to deliver BrahMos missile system to Philippines Today (Fri)

• The 1^st contracted BrahMos missile from India to the Philippines will reach on Fri
• The journey of this missile, the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, begins from Nagpur, India, where it is loaded onto an IAF C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft.
• Accompanied by 3 civilian freight liners carrying additional parts and support systems, the missile is poised to enhance the defense capabilities of the Philippine Marine Corps’ coastal defense regiment.
• Signed in Jan 2022, the $375 million deal between BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd and the Philippine Marine Corps paved the way for this significant export milestone. (here)

Vice Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi appointed as new Vice Chief of the Naval Staff

• Vice-Admiral Dinesh Tripathi took over as the Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff on Thu.
• A day before, Vice-Admiral Sanjay J Singh took over from him as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOCINC), Western Naval Command, at INS Shikra in Mumbai
• The Chief of the Naval Staff, Adml R. Hari Kumar, is set to step down on retirement on Apr 30 when Vice-Adm Tripathi will be the senior-most Naval officer.
• All three Services will get new Chiefs this year.
• In another change, Vice-Admiral V. Srinivas took over as 30^th FOCINC of the Southern Naval Command in a ceremonial parade at the Naval Base in Kochi on Dec 31.
• He replaced Vice-Admiral M. A. Hampiholi, who retired after close to four decades in the Navy. (here)

 [neighborhood]

Philippines to probe influx of Chinese students in province close to Taiwan, military concerned over ‘legality’ of stay

• The Philippines and Taiwan have increasingly faced Chinese military aggression in recent times as China asserts its territorial claims in the region
• Philippines to probe influx of Chinese students in province close to Taiwan, military concerned over ‘legality’ of stay
• The Philippine officials are set to investigate the influx of Chinese students in the Cagayan province, a coastal region of the country that faces Taiwan.
• The Philippine military is concerned over the security aspects of the rising presence of Chinese nationals in Cagayan.
• The province houses 2 military bases that are used by the US as part of a bilateral treaty.
• The two countries have a mutual defense treaty that states that an armed attack in the Pacific Area on either country would be met with a joint effort.
• A security expert has dismissed such concerns and said that the influx of Chinese nationals reflects the corruption among politicians instead of any security concerns.
• The report of the rising numbers of Chinese nationals comes at a time when both the Philippines and Taiwan are increasingly facing Chinese military aggression. (here)

All 5 foreign nationals safe in Karachi suicide attack, say police

• Police officials on Fri said that all the foreigners traveling in a vehicle that was targeted in a suicide attack in the Landhi area were safe and shifted to an undisclosed location.
• They said that 5 foreign nationals were in the car when it came under attack killing two terrorists involved in the attack.
• The police said that the van was targeted by the terrorists who were on a bike.
• They added that a bag filled with grenades and Kalashnikov from the crime scene.
• SSP Malir Tariq Mastoi confirmed that it was a suicide attack.
• The police official said that another vehicle was also damaged in the explosion.
• Meanwhile, Jinnah Hospital officials said that 3 injured were submitted in the facility out of which two are critically injured. 
• They also confirmed that no foreign national was injured in the accident. (here)

Pakistan: We shouldn’t fight with our neighbors, says CM Maryam Sharif at Kartarpur Sahib

• Taking credit for the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, the CM of West Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, said that her father and former PM, Nawaz Sharif, was the first to advocate the opening. [So, who stopped the PM?]
• She mentioned that he would watch people paying respect to the gurudwara from the India-Pakistan border with binoculars.
• CM said, “When Sikh pilgrims from India come here, it reminds me of what Nawaz Sharif used to say: ‘We should not fight with our neighbors. We should open the doors of our hearts and countries.’”
• The Kartarpur Corridor was opened in 2019 when Imran Khan was the PM, who is currently in jail, and the PML (N) came to power in Pakistan earlier this year.
• The party also formed the govt in the state of West Punjab.
• Addressing Sikh pilgrims from India at Kartarpur Sahib, CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif reiterated her father’s belief that nations should not fight with their neighbors. (here)

US, Pakistan discuss ‘recent events in region’

• The US on Thu reached out to Pakistan regarding an escalating conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv, even as Islamabad stayed away from condemning the Iranian attack
• “US Ambassador Donald Blome met today with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss recent events in the region,” the US Embassy said in a statement.
• FM Dar said he discussed “various aspects of Pakistan-US relations and recent global and regional developments” with Amb without clarifying what message had conveyed.
• This was the 1^st time that the US had publicly reached Islamabad since Israel hit the Iranian consulate in Damascus and killed senior commanders, followed by Iranian retaliation.
• The meeting, moreover, comes ahead of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s upcoming 3-day visit to Islamabad, due to start on Mon.
• Interestingly, while Blome was meeting with Dar, the Iranian envoy was also at the FO to discuss the details of President Raisi’s upcoming visit.
• A Pakistani diplomat claimed that the US has not asked anything regarding the conflict, but it is concerned about reports that Pakistan plans to go ahead with the stalled gas pipeline project with Iran. (here)

Ukraine war: at G7, Blinken seeks European support to pressure China over alleged support for Russia

• The US urged European powers to increase pressure on China at a G7 FMs meeting in Italy on Thu, as Washington accuses Beijing of helping Russia’s military expansion.
• The Americans hope in particular that European nations will pressure China to reduce military support for Russia, at a time when, according to Washington, Russian forces are gaining ground in Ukraine following the February 2022 invasion.
• In addition to the US, the G7 countries include Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and Italy, which holds the presidency this year.
• Secretary Blinken, who arrived on the Italian resort island of Capri on Wed, raised his concerns during a working session devoted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
• China is “contributing to Russia’s ability to prosecute” the war in ways that threaten all of Europe, a senior US official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
• There is a “growing awareness” of the challenges linked to China’s support and the warning is expected to appear in the final communique on Fri, the official added. (here)