VIF Information Alerts - 2 Feb 2018

First defence industrial corridor between Chennai, Bengaluru
Business Line
02 Feb 2018

Announcement for the second corridor will be made soon, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

The first of the two defence industrial production corridors, as announced in the Union Budget, will link Chennai and Bengaluru, Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday. In his budget address, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government will develop two defence industrial production corridors. Click here to read... [2]

Despite 7.8% rise in allocation, spending as percentage of GDP slumps; this is the lowest since 1962
Business Line
02 Feb 2018

The defence spending has touched a low at 1.62 per cent of the planned GDP growth in 2018-19 even as the budgetary allocation for the sector was increased by 7.81 per cent at ₹2,95,511.41 crore from ₹2,74,114.12 crore in 2017-18. Click here to read... [3]

Budget 2018: Home Ministry gets Rs 93,450 cr, a 5.6% hike
Economic Times
01 Feb 2018

The Home Ministry has been allocated Rs 93,450 crore in the 2018-19 Union Budget, a hike of 5.6 per cent, with most funds earmarked for police, including the Central Armed Police Forces that are responsible for internal and border security. Click here to read... [4]

China in talks over military base in remote Afghanistan: officials
The Times of India
02 Feb 2018

Worried about militants sneaking into a restive Chinese region from war-torn Afghanistan, Beijing is in talks with Kabul over the construction of a military base, Afghan officials say, as it seeks to shore up its fragile neighbour. Click here to read... [5]

Pakistan extends deadline to repatriate Afghan refugees
Tribune
02 Feb 2018

The Pakistan government has extended the stay of Afghan refugees in the country for 60 days, a shorter-than-recommended time that revives fears Islamabad is preparing a forced return of hundreds of thousands to violence-plagued Afghanistan. Click here to read... [6]

Commanders authorised to deal with ‘safe havens’ in Afghanistan, Pakistan: US
DAWN
01 Feb 2018

The Trump administration’s South Asia strategy gives US commanders in the region the authority and resources they need to deal with “terrorist safe havens in both Afghanistan and Pakistan”, says the White House. Click here to read... [7]

Maldives top court orders retrial of ex-president, opposition leaders
The Times of India
02 Feb 2018

The Supreme Court of the Maldives on Thursday ordered the immediate release of former president Mohamed Nasheed and eight other opposition leaders, saying their trials had violated the constitution and international law - but it also ordered new trials. Click here to read... [8]

Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Nepal: A victory of Indian ‘conciliators’ over ‘partisans’
Hindustan Times
31 Jan 2018

There are many who think that external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj’s mandate is limited to merely managing distress of Indian citizens on social media. Nothing could be further from truth. And the one country which provides the starkest example of her key role in policy-making is where she is heading on Thursday — Nepal. Click here to read... [9]