GS-II

Aim is to advance deliveries of the system, though Russia was ready to accede to the condition The Rs. 40,300-crore deal between India and Russia for five S-400 air defence missile systems does not have any offset clause. India has decided to drop it so as to advance deliveries, though …

Airports Authority of India creates a simulated experience of security drills With the aim of dispelling any fear in first-time flyers and educating them about the mandatory security drill, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has recreated an airport experience at an international exhibition here. The AAI, which manages 130 …

Safe now in Bangladesh’s sprawling camps, refugees are haunted by the violence that forced them to flee and seek assurances before they return Mohammed Nikaruzzaman, the sub-district officer in charge of Kutupalong, can never forget the sight that he witnessed on September 6, 2017. That rainy evening, while driving towards …

The Election Commission on Saturday announced that the Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana will be held from November 12 to December 7. The results for all the five States will be declared on December 11. The model code of conduct came into effect in four …

Blackwater founder is pushing for privatisation of the U.S. war in Afghanistan A new crop of senior American officials in Afghanistan has raced to contain a dual crisis on the battlefield and in a potentially explosive election dispute. But it is a different U.S. figure — the mercenary executive Erik …

Analysts say China will be forced to dig in for a prolonged multi-front battle with the U.S. U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence’s accusations in a stinging speech on Thursday, warning of a tougher approach towards Beijing may have been familiar to China’s leaders. But until now such remarks were delivered in …

‘Separate ministry for Himalayan States’ A separate ministry should be created at the Centre to resolve the common issues of the Himalayan States as the problems of this region are different from those faced in the plains, Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Dev Vrat said on Friday.PTI Source :  https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/hp-governor-advocates-separate-ministry-for-himalayan-states/article25140172.ece

A conglomerate of major civil society and students’ organisations in Mizoram has said that the Bru families who declined the rehabilitation package within the deadline of September 30 should not be allowed to return from refugee camps in Tripura. Only 45 of the 5,407 Bru families comprising 32,867 individuals returned …

‘Report on likely implementation is false’ The Home Ministry said on Friday that no decision has been taken to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Tripura, after a similar exercise was carried out in Assam to identify illegal immigrants. In a statement, the Home Ministry said a delegation …

“Rape in war has been a crime for centuries. But it was a crime in the shadows. The two laureates have both shone a light on it,” Dan Smith, Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), told Reuters. Dr. Mukwege, a past winner of the United Nations Human …

GJM team claims Centre’s nod The Centre has agreed for a tripartite meeting to discuss various political issues concerning the Gurkhas, including the demand for a separate State of Gorkhaland, Kalimpong legislator Sarita Rai said on Friday. The Home Ministry spokesperson did not comment. Large-scale violence was reported in Darjeeling …

‘Vaccines supplied conform to recommended standards’ Rubbishing rumours being spread asking parents not to give polio drops to children up to 5 years as some virus has been found in them, the Union Health Ministry has cautioned the public not to give credence to them. A release issued by the …

Refugees say they won’t return home till safety is ensured The 235 Rohingya refugees staying at the Kalindi Kunj camp are worried about their future after the government deported seven of them on Friday. The Supreme Court had on Thursday refused to stay their deportation. Most of refugees in the …

Russian President, Prime Minister Modi interact with young talent from the two countries Interaction between young people of India and Russia, especially schoolchildren, would perhaps be the “most important addition” to the “unprecedented level” of bilateral ties and serve as a basis for a long-term cooperation, Russian President Vladimir Putin …

U.S. says sanctions waiver will be given only on transaction-by-transaction basis India and Russia on Friday concluded the contract for five S-400 ‘Triumf’ missile systems, one of the biggest defence deals in recent times, after the annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The announcement …

German Chancellor was on a day-long visit to Israel Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke of Germany’s “everlasting responsibility” to oppose anti-Semitism during a visit to Israel on Thursday as she and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brushed past their differences and promoted cooperation between their nations. The one-day visit by Ms. Merkel …

Tiny chips inserted in U.S. computer equipment manufactured in China were used as part of a vast effort by Beijing to steal U.S. technology secrets, a report said on Thursday. The Bloomberg News report said the chips, the size of a grain of rice, were used on equipment made for …

U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated prominent Indian-American nuclear expert Rita Baranwal to head the nuclear energy division at the Department of Energy. If approved by the Senate, Ms. Baranwal will be an Assistant Secretary of Energy, responsible for nuclear technology research and the development and management of the department’s …

It’s seen as a symbol of ‘military aggression’ South Korea on Thursday reiterated a demand that Japan remove its “rising sun” naval flag from a warship participating in an international fleet review at Jeju island next week. Many South Koreans associate the symbol with Japanese military aggression during the Second …

With popularity slumping, the President doesn’t want to be viewed as someone who favours big business at the expense of workers As President Emmanuel Macron presses ahead with the most business-friendly overhaul of the French labour market in decades, his popularity with many of his countrymen has gone into a …