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New self-propelled Howitzer gun unveiled

New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today unveiled new K9 Vajra-T self-propelled 155 mm Howitzer guns and said these future-ready combat vehicles meet requirements of 21st century warfare.

Under the K9 Vajra contract given to Larson and Toubro (L&T), 100 such systems have to be delivered in 42 months, which is the largest contract awarded by the Ministry of Defence to a private company.

K Vajra-T guns weigh 50 tonnes and can fire 47 kg bombs at 43 km distant targets. It also has the ability to turn around at zero radius.

The Armoured System Complex (ASC) at Hazira is a state-of-the-art complex to manufacture and integrate advanced armoured platforms.

“These future-ready combat vehicles meet the requirements of 21st century warfare, including deep fire support with its longer firing range,” the Defence Minister said.

Singh also said, “I have been told that more than 75 per cent of K9 Vajra has been manufactured in India. Over 5,000 people have got direct employment and more than 12,500 indirect employment through this complex. It is a matter of great pride,” he said. He congratulated L&T for delivering 51 of the 100 orders it received for K9 Vajra ahead of schedule and called for active participation of the private sector in defence manufacturing.

He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to make India an arms manufacturing hub and net defence exporter.

“Our Government is open to new ideas and is determined to use the energy, entrepreneurship spirit and enterprise of the private industry in the defence sector,” he said.

The Defence Minister also listed out various far reaching reforms introduced by the government under ‘Make in India’ initiative to achieve $26 billion defence industry by 2025 and provide employment to 2-3 million people. “We wish to create an ecosystem that provides a platform to both public sector and private sector to work together and contribute to nation building through their strengths and experiences,” he added.

Some of the reforms highlighted by the Defence Minister include setting up of Defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, simplification of industry licensing process, increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap, steps to promote defence exports, streamlining of Defence offset policy,  establishing Defence Investor Cell, providing government-owned trial and testing facility to the private sector and schemes for start-ups and small & medium enterprises to promote innovation.

L&T Group Chairman AM Naik and officials of L&T were also present on the occasion.

Rajnath Singh was also shown the different manoeuvres of the K9 Vajra-T. He was driven around the Hazira complex, by the L&T officials, in the vehicle on which the gun was mounted.

We’ve to deal with terror the way US did after 9/11: CDS

New Delhi (NVI): Asserting that the war on terror is not going to end, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat today advocated a hardline approach to tackle the menace and cited the approach adopted by the US after 9/11.

He also said that those sponsoring terror should be isolated and taken to task.

“We’ve to bring an end to terrorism and that can only happen the way Americans started after 9/11 terror attack,” the former Army Chief said, apparently referring to the US-led military campaign in Afghanistan to target the Al-Qaida terror outfit which carried out the strikes in New York in 2001.

Gen Rawat, while speaking on the third day of the Raisina Dialogue 2020 here, underlined that there is a need to go on a spree on the global war on terror.

“To do that you have to isolate the terrorists and anybody who is sponsoring terrorism has to be taken to task,” he added.

In this context, he lauded the provision of blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the countries aiding terrorism.

On radicalisation of youth in Kashmir, the Chief of Defence Staff said it can be countered. “You need to know sources, school, colleges, religious places. In Kashmir, we saw radicalisation happening. Now children are being radicalised. There is a need to work for long and choose various ways to counter it.”

IAF rescues 71 stranded trekkers in Ladakh

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Air Force (IAF) has rescued 71 trekkers who were stranded due to sudden flooding in Niraq in Ladakh’s Zanskar valley.

The 71 trekkers were among over 100 trekkers who were camping in remote villages in Niraq on the Chader trek route but got stuck at various camps  due to sudden flooding in the river, the IAF said here today.

The IAF launched operations at a short notice and successfully rescued 71 trekkers who were moved to Leh.

The IAF statement said efforts to rescue the remaining people, who include 9 French and Chinese nationals, at Padum are continuing in spite of prevailing adverse weather conditions.

Chaddar Trek is a winter trek in Ladakh, popular amongst adventurists on the frozen Zanskar river, a tributary of Indus River in Ladakh.

The trek is undertaken for a period of four to five days with halts at various places.

Train derailed near Cuttack, 40 injured

New Delhi (NVI): Around 40 people were injured after five coaches of Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express derailed after hitting a stationary goods train between Salagaon and Nergundi railway station at Cuttack today.

According to reports, the passengers with major injuries have been sent to Cuttack Medical College.

Officials said there was heavy fog at the site but it was not clear what led to the accident.

Gaganyaan astronauts to begin training in Russia this month

New Delhi (NVI): The four astronauts shortlisted for India’s first-ever manned space mission ‘Gaganyaan’ will start their training in Russia from third week of this month, Minister of State for Space Jitendra Singh said today.

The training will be for 11 months, after which these astronauts will receive module-specific training in India, he said.

Gaganyaan is proposed to be launched in 2022 and the astronauts are expected to be in space for at least 7 days.

Singh, who is also Minister of State in the PMO, said all the four astronauts selected for the mission are men but their identities cannot be revealed. According to an earlier plan, a woman was also to be a part of the crew.

Under the module-specific training, the four astronauts will be trained in crew and service module designed by ISRO, learn to operate it, work around and do simulations.

The government has sanctioned Rs 10,000 crore for the Gaganyaan project.

Though the first Indian to go into space was Rakesh Sharma in 1984 but the spacecraft in which he went was not Indian. Therefore, Gaganyaan will be the first of its kind human space mission conceived and developed in India.

Nirbhaya: Delhi govt rejects mercy plea

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi (NVI): The Delhi government today rejected the mercy plea of Mukesh Singh, one of the convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case.

After the rejection by the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government, the recommendation of the mercy plea was forwarded to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal,  who sent it to Union Ministry of Home Affairs for the further processing.

The Home Ministry will form its own recommendation now  and forward that to President Ram Nath Kovind.

According to the law, the President has the power to commute death sentence to life imprisonment.

Mukesh Singh and the three other convicts– Vinay Sharma, Akshay Kumar and Pawan Gupta– are scheduled to be hanged on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar Jail.

Nirbhaya, a 23-year-old girl, was brutally raped and murdered on the night of December 16, 2012, in a south Delhi area.

Delhi receives showers 

New Delhi (NVI): Parts of Delhi received showers today while the minimum temperature rose to 9.5 degrees celsius from 6.4 degrees celsius recorded yesterday.

The maximum temperature  today is expected to be around 16.0 degrees celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The weatherman has forecast that the temperature is expected to dip in Delhi and adjoining places.

Meanwhile, the overall air quality in the national capital today remained in the “poor” category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR),the Air Quauity Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at  245 which falls in the “poor” category.

The worst affected areas are Dhirpur, Delhi University, Chandni Chowk, Pusa, Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, IGI Terminal 3 and the neighbouring Noida.

J&K: Rs 6,000 crore due for release by Centre under CSS

Jammu (NVI): An amount of over Rs 6,000 crore is due for release to Jammu and Kashmir as a component of the Central government funds towards different centrally-sponsored schemes.

This information was provided at a meeting held here on Wednesday by Financial Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir Arun Kumar Mehta to review proper utilization of the funds for the Union Territory provided under different centrally-sponsored schemes (CSS).

The meeting was also informed that all the departments are pursuing the release of these funds by liaising with the ministries concerned.

The Financial Commissioner urged the line departments to vigorously pursue the process of getting balance funds from the Government of India (GOI) being provided under different CSS.

He urged the officers to show eagerness to take up projects and utilise the funds properly.

“J&K is in dire need of such kind of assistance and its proper utilisation will definitely change the developmental scenario here,” the FC asserted.

Several administrative secretaries and the officers of the Finance department attended the meeting.

Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) are schemes that are implemented by state governments of India but are largely funded by the Central Government with a defined State Government share. Some examples of such schemes are Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, etc.

FICCI suggests govt to formulate national railway plan

New Delhi (NVI): To facilitate industry participation in the rail sector, industry body FICCI has suggested the government to formulate a national railway plan and reform procurement policy.

Apart from this, the industry chamber has also recommended phased manufacturing program, expansion of PPP (public-private partnership) model to new areas, and closer collaboration with industry for absorption of technology.

The FICCI report also said railways will offer new manufacturing opportunities worth Rs 28,000 crore per year.

The report also identifies specific opportunities for industry across various areas such as rolling-stock manufacturing, sub-assembly or component manufacturing, machinery and tool manufacturing, and project execution.

The report has also enlisted 10 recommendations for policy makers to further facilitate industry participation in these opportunities.

Russian Foreign Minister meets PM

New Delhi (NVI): The year 2020 should be the one to implement the decisions reached between India and Russia in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today.

He made the suggestion while receiving Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov here and noted that several important decisions and outcomes were reached between the two countries last year.

The year 2020 is the 20th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership between India and the Russian Federation.

Lavrov, who is on a visit to India to participate in the Raisina Dialogue, briefed the Prime Minister on Russia’s position on key international and regional issues.

During the discussion, Modi referred to the wide-ranging conversation he had with President Vladimir Putin over telephone on January 13.

He also noted the progress in the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the previous year.

The Russian Foreign Minister conveyed to Modi that President Putin looks forward to the visit of the Prime Minister to Russia in May 2020 to participate in the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Victory Day, and in July 2020 for the BRICS and SCO Summits.

Earlier, while speaking at the Raisina Dialogue today, the Russian Foreign Minister hit out at the US over the concept of the Indo-Pacific, while saying that it was initiated to disrupt the existing structure and contain China.

He also said that an equitable democratic order should not be influenced by use of brutal force. Lavrov also backed India and Brazil to be permanent members of the UN Security Council.

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