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<ul><li><strong>The move is first step to open negotiations, said Pakistan PM Imran Khan.<br /></strong></li><li><strong><keyword id="7371588" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abhinandan-Varthaman">Abhinandan Varthaman</keyword>, the Indian pilot, was captured in Pakistan when his plane was shot down during after a dogfight.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>India had pressed for immediate release for the pilot.</strong></li></ul>Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday said it will release Indian pilot, <keyword id="200145" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abhinandan">Abhinandan</keyword> Varthaman, held in Pakistan custody as a gesture of peace on Friday.<br /><br />Addressing the Pakistan Parliament, Khan said the move was a ‘first step’ to open negotiations with India, coming just days after the two countries engaged in an air battle for the first time since 1971, sparking fears of hostilities spiralling out of control.<br /><br />Varthaman, who was flying a Mig-21, was shot down after an aerial face-off between Pakistan and India earlier this week, in the wake of air strikes by India on a terror camp in Pakistan.<br /><br />The Indian government had pressed for immediate release for the pilot and had been under public pressure to bring him back after he went missing in action following in an aerial encounter between the forces of the two countries.<br /><br />International pressure for both India and Pakistan had been fierce to de-escalate tensions. US president Donald Trump earlier in the day <a href="https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/donald-trump-says-us-has-some-reasonably-decent-news-on-reducing-indo-pak-tensions-3594051.html">hinted</a> that he had some ‘reasonably attractive' news that the heightened tension between the two countries might end soon. <br /><br />On Wednesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs had held meetings with a Pakistani envoy and handed over Pakistan documents containing details of Jaish-e-Mohammed's involvement in the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, which killed over 40 CRPF security personnel. <br />

Pakistan says it will release captured Indian pilot as a ‘peace gesture’

Pulwama terror attack and how it has changed India in just a year

<br /><ul><li><strong>The Wing Commander reportedly chose to return to his squadron in Srinagar rather than visiting his home in Chennai though he was on leave. <br /></strong></li><li><strong>The Wing Commander Abhinandan was sent to sick leave of four weeks after a series of events wherein he was captured by the Pakistan Army on February 27.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>He was kept under Pakitani captivity for over 60 hours before his return to India. <br /></strong></li></ul>Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was widely praised for his bravery after being captured by Pakistan for nearly two days, has already returned to his squadron while on a four-week sick leave, <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/iaf-pilot-abhinandan-varthaman-returns-to-his-squadron-in-srinagar-2013348?pfrom=home-topscroll">reported</a> Press Trust of India citing official sources. <br /><br />According to media reports, the Wing Commander chose to return to his squadron in Srinagar rather than visiting his home in Chennai.<br /><br />The pilot was captured by the Pakistan Army on February 27 in the Pakistan administered Kashmir after his MiG 21 was hit following IAF's air strike on the <keyword id="119193" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jaish-e-Mohammed">Jaish-e-Mohammed</keyword> camp in Pakistan's Balakot, in the wake of the February 14 <keyword id="43212" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pulwama">Pulwama</keyword> terror attack which left 40 Central Reserve Police Force troopers dead.<br /><br />"At the moment, the officer has decided to stay with his men and machines in Srinagar and would be required to come back from New Delhi for a review by medical board which will decide on his fitness for flying fighter planes," reported ANI quoting sources. <br /><br />Following the strikes in February, Varthaman was held in Pakistan captivity for over 60 hours before his release to India by Pakistan as a ‘peace gesture’. Later, he was whisked from the Attari Joint Check Post (JCP) complex under tight security to the Amritsar International Airport for Delhi. After his return, he completed two-week debriefing by security agencies and went on four-weeks leave. <br /><br />Varthaman will reportedly undergo review of his fitness soon after his sick leave period to assess whether he can return to fighter cockpit or not. <br /><br /><em>(With IANS)</em><br /><br />See also: <br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.my/indian-pilot-returned-pakistan-deescalate-conflict-ate-secret-documents-reports-2019-3/%5C">Indian fighter pilot returned by Pakistan after wild ordeal where he was shot down over enemy territory and reportedly ate sensitive documents to keep them secret</a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/pakistan-says-it-will-release-captured-indian-pilot-as-a-peace-gesture/articleshow/68203079.cms">Pakistan says it will release captured Indian pilot as a ‘peace gesture’</a><br />

Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman who was captured by Pakistan returns to his squadron while on sick leave: Report

<br /><ul><li><strong>Search engine giant Google has released a recap sequence of the <keyword id="805759" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="most-searched">most searched</keyword> trends on its platform across India.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>From Cricket World Cup and Lok Sabha Elections to Chandrayaan 2, the report shows the extent of excitement and dedication Indians have for national events. <br /></strong></li><li><strong>Ranu Mondal — the viral singing sensation — was the new entrant featured on the list, after her song <em>Ek pyaar ka nagma hai</em> went viral across social media platforms.</strong></li></ul>Wrapping up 2019, search engine giant Google has released a recap sequence of the most searched trends on its platform across India. It announced the ‘Year in Search’ results for categories like personalities, news, sports and more.<br /><br />From <a href="http://v">Cricket World Cup and Lok Sabha Elections to Chandrayaan 2</a>, the report shows the extent of excitement and dedication Indians have for national events. <br /><br />Vicky Kaushal, Rishabh Pant, and Abhinandan Varthaman were the top searched personalities this year. While Ranu Mondal — the viral singing sensation who broke out with <em>Ek pyaar ka nagma hai</em>— was the new entrant featured on the list. <br /><br /><strong>Here is the list of top Indian personalities on <keyword id="163945" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google-Search">Google search</keyword> this year:<br /><strong></strong><br /></strong><br />

Vicky Kaushal, Rishabh Pant, and Abhinandan Varthaman among the top 10 personalities that Indians googled this year

<br /><ul><li><strong>The <keyword id="76600" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Central-Reserve-Police-Force">Central Reserve Police Force</keyword> (<keyword id="6354354" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="crpf">CRPF</keyword>) is honouring its personnel on India’s <keyword id="7946768" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="73rd-independence-day">73rd Independence Day</keyword>.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>The forces will award 136 medals — including 75 gallantry medals on 15th August 2019. <br /></strong></li><li><strong>Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who had shot down a Pakistani F-16 near the Line of Control (LoC) on February 27, has also been short-listed for the Vir Chakra.</strong></li></ul>The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is honouring its personnel on India’s 73rd Independence Day. The Army released the list of awards to be presented on the day. <br /><br />As many as 136 medals — including 75 gallantry medals will be given away on 15th August 2019. It includes Kirti Chakra, <keyword id="410713" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shaurya-Chakra">Shaurya Chakra</keyword>, President's Police Medal For Gallantry, Police Medal for Gallantry, President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service, and Police Medal for Meritorious service-57.<br /><br /><div type="twitter" handle="crpfindia" handlename="🇮🇳CRPF🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/756506850208645120/7H1B6nh-_normal.jpg" favoritecount="1219" retweetcount="234" status="136 MEDALS DECORATE CRPF PERSONNEL ON #IndependenceDay2019: Kirti Chakra-01 Shaurya Chakra-02 President's Police Me… https://t.co/4BnGGkQIaO" createdat="1565777403000" id="1161580738606583810"></div>

<br />According to IANS, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who had shot down a Pakistani F-16 near the Line of Control (LoC) on February 27, has been shortlisted for the Vir Chakra. The Vir Chakra is the third-highest military honour awarded for acts of bravery in the presence of the enemy.<br /><br />The army also released the poster for the Tribute Song ‘Tu Desh Mera’ for the CRPF Martyrs of Pulwama.<br /><br />The top five awardees of the paramilitary forces include Harshpal Singh, Constable Sable Dnyaneshwar Shriram, Constable Zaker Hussain, Shaheed Ct. Mohd Mojahid Khan, and Sh. Loukrakpam Ibomcha Singh.<br /><br />The Kirti Chakra, the third highest military honour awarded during peacetime, has been conferred on Harshpal Singh, Second-In-Command, who fought off <keyword id="119193" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jaish-e-Mohammed">Jaish-e-Mohammed</keyword> terrorists in <keyword id="17605" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jammu-and-kashmir">Jammu and Kashmir</keyword>.<br /><br /><div type="twitter" handle="crpfindia" handlename="🇮🇳CRPF🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/756506850208645120/7H1B6nh-_normal.jpg" favoritecount="714" retweetcount="140" status="For displaying exemplary bravery and raw courage in an operation in which 03 JeM foreign terrorists were neutralise… https://t.co/nSD962qGpr" createdat="1565784032000" id="1161608540806508544"></div>

<br />Constable Zaker Hussain, along with Constable Sable Dnyaneshwar Shriram have been honoured with Shaurya Chakra for displaying bravery in Jammu and Kashmir operations.<br /><div type="twitter" handle="crpfindia" handlename="🇮🇳CRPF🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/756506850208645120/7H1B6nh-_normal.jpg" favoritecount="605" retweetcount="127" status="For their indomitable courage, bravery, and valour displayed in successful operations in J&amp;K, Ct. Zaker Hussain and… https://t.co/7qIcqw5hgD" createdat="1565787678000" id="1161623833545080832"></div>

<br />Sh. Loukrakpam Ibomcha Singh, Assistant Commandant of CRPF, along with Shaheed Ct. Mohd. Mojahid Khan has been awarded the President's Police Medal for Gallantry on Independence day for their devotion and courage on duty, and extraordinary acts of bravery.<br /><div type="twitter" handle="crpfindia" handlename="🇮🇳CRPF🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/756506850208645120/7H1B6nh-_normal.jpg" favoritecount="651" retweetcount="118" status="Shaheed Ct. Mohd. Mojahid Khan and Sh. Loukrakpam Ibomcha Singh, Assistant Commandant of #CRPF have been awarded th… https://t.co/dnveba3Wj8" createdat="1565788739000" id="1161628282137092101"></div>

<br />

The top 5 awardees from India's paramilitary forces this Independence Day

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Pakistan has returned captured Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was being held after his plane got shot down.</strong></li><li><strong>Varthaman parachuted to the ground, where he ate documents to keep Pakistan from seeing them, witnesses told Reuters and Pakistani newspaper Dawn.</strong></li><li><strong>Pakistan shared two videos of Varthaman in custody. One where he is bloodied and blindfolded, and another where he drinks tea and praises his captors.</strong></li><li><strong>India is welcoming Varthaman back as a hero after his return late Friday night.</strong></li></ul><p>Pakistan returned a captured Indian fighter pilot late on Friday, after a dramatic clash between regional rivals that&#xa0; him shot down over the fiercely-contested Kashmir border region.</p><p>According to reports in local media, <span>Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman parachuted from his stricken plane, fended off locals on the ground by firing warning shots from his pistol, and swallowed sensitive paperwork to keep it secret.</span></p><p><span>Varthaman was shot down and captured on Wednesday when the two countries clashed in the air, the latest in a series of encounters following a February 14 terrorist attack that left 40 Indian troops dead.</span></p><p><span>When Varthaman landed he asked&#xa0; if he was in India or Pakistan, two witnesses told Reuters.</span></p><p><span>On hearing he was in Pakistan, he fired a shot into the air as locals picked up stones, the witnesses said.</span></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p><span>According to the witnesses, he then ran, firing shots behind him, and jumped into a small pond where he took out documents and maps, ate some of them and soaked others in water to prevent Pakistan from getting them.</span></p><p><span>He was then restrained by the locals until Pakistani soldiers arrived.</span></p><p><span><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/r-saved-from-pakistani-mob-downed-indian-pilot-becomes-face-of-kashmir-crisis-2019-2" data-analytics-position="2">After being saved from an angry mob, an Indian pilot shot down over Pakistan has become the face of the latest crisis between the 2 nuclear-armed rivals</a></em></span></p><p>Abdul Majeed, 40, told Reuters that he was one of the locals who had beaten and thrown stones at <span>Varthaman</span>.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>"While in the stream he once again pointed his revolver at us and fearing that he may shoot directly at us, I threw a stone at him," he said.</p><p>"Some of us did thrash him... because he had given us a tough time. But later we handed him over to the army personnel."</p><p>A witness, who was not named, gave the same details <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1466569">to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper.</a></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p><span>Varthaman was kept in Pakistan's custody until Friday, when he was returned to India in what Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan called a "peace gesture."</span></p><p><span>Footage broadcast on Pakistani state TV showed Varthaman, surrounded by soldiers, crossing into India on foot, where he is set to be welcomed as a hero.</span></p><h2><span>Pakistan shared videos of the pilot in their custody</span></h2><p>Shortly after his capture, Varthaman was shown in video published by Pakistan with a bloodied face and wearing a blindfold - treatment which experts say could violate <keyword id="6356001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> treaties. Pakistan's information ministry later deleted the video on its Twitter account.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p><span>In it, he gave his name, rank, and service number, and called his captors "sir."</span></p><p>Officials later shared a second video of the pilot, that shows him drinking tea and saying that Pakistan is treating him well.</p><p>"I would like to put this on record &amp; I would not change my statement if I go back to my country. The officers of the Pakistan Army have looked after me very well. They are thorough gentlemen," he says in the video.</p><p>The videos helped Varthaman become the face of the conflict between the two nuclear powers, which could have become a "mutual suicide" for the two nations had it escalated into war, Pakistan's foreign minister <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2019/02/28/amanpour-shah-mehmood-qureshi.cnn">told CNN.</a></p><p><span data-qa-component="highlight-text">India</span><span>n military officials said on Thursday that they welcomed the return of Varthaman, but refused to say if they considered his return to be a de-escalation of the conflict, Reuters reported.</span></p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-pakistan-kashmir-nuclear-weapons-climate-cooling-2019-2" data-analytics-position="2">If India and Pakistan have a 'limited' nuclear war, scientists say it could wreck Earth's climate and trigger global famine</a></em></p><p>Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said at a joint news conference of<span data-qa-component="highlight-text">&#xa0;India</span>'s three armed forces on Thursday evening that India is "happy" that <span>Varthaman was to be released the next day. He did not answer reporters who asked if whether this would de-escalate the conflict.</span></p><p><span>Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that Pakistan wants "peace and stability in the region." Khan previously questioned whether the countries could "afford miscalculation" given the devastation that could be caused by their nuclear arsenals.</span></p><p><span>World leaders such as the US, EU, and China had urged the countries to exercise caution, emphasising the importance of peace in the region.</span><span></span></p><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/president-declare-national-emergency-what-happens-2019-2">What happens when the president declares a national emergency</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Indian fighter pilot returned by Pakistan, after wild ordeal where he was shot down over enemy territory and reportedly ate sensitive documents to keep them secret

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Pakistan's prime minister said the country would return a captured Indian pilot as a "peace gesture" towards resolving a flare-up in the Kashmir region.</strong></li><li><strong>Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured on Wednesday when the two countries shot down each others' jets.</strong></li><li><strong>The pilot was shown blindfolded and with a bloody face in a since-deleted video shared by the Pakistan Information Ministry.</strong></li><li><strong>A later video from Pakistan showed the pilot drinking tea, in which he says he is being treated well.</strong></li></ul><p>Pakistan said it will release the pilot that it captured after shooting down an Indian plane, in what it said was a gesture to ease growing tensions between the two nuclear rivals.</p><p>Pakistan's prime minister, <span>Imran Khan, announced that he would release the pilot, identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, as a "peace gesture" to India.</span></p><p><span>Shortly after his capture, Varthaman was shown in video published by Pakistan with a bloodied face and wearing a blindfold - treatment which experts say could violate <keyword id="6356001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> treaties.</span></p><p><span>India and Pakistan shot down its each others' jets on Wednesday, during which confrontation Pakistan captured Varthaman.</span></p><p><span>It was the latest clash since tensions soared between the two countries after 40 Indian troops were killed in a terrorist attack in the disputed territory of Kashmir on February 14.</span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span>The country's foreign minister previously said Pakistan would release him "if it leads to de-escalation" between the two countries, Reuters reported.</span></p><p><span>The Pakistani information ministry on Wednesday shared, but later deleted, a tweet showing him blindfolded and with blood on his face. The pilot gave his name, rank, and service number, and called his captors "sir."</span></p><p><span>Officials later shared a second video of the pilot, that shows him drinking tea and saying that Pakistan is treating him well.</span></p><p><span>"I would like to put this on record &amp; I would not change my statement if I go back to my country. The officers of the Pakistan Army have looked after me very well. They are thorough gentlemen," he says in the video.</span></p><p>General Vijay Kumar Singh, the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, described the pilot as "embodiment of a mentally tough, selfless &amp; courageous soldier" and called for his safe return.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-pakistan-conflict-flights-canceled-rerouted-airspace-closed-2019-2"> Thousands of flights were canceled or rerouted when Pakistan shut down its airspace after shooting down Indian jet</a></em></p><p>"During these testing times the country stands, as one, behind him &amp; his family. Our efforts are on &amp; under the #GenevaConvention we hope that the brave pilot would return home soon,"<span>&#xa0;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/Gen_VKSingh/status/1100966838320619521">he said</a>. Experts <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/02/27/pakistan-violated-geneva-conventions-by-tweeting-video-captured-indian-pilot-expert-says/?utm_term=.e0efe00fdd2e">told The Washington Post</a> that Pakistan may have violated the Geneva Convention by sharing the video that shows the pilot blindfolded.</p><p>Khan called for sensible action between the two countries at a press conference and said that India and Pakistan should "should sit down and talk." He urged "better sense to prevail."</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>Khan said that, given the two nations' nuclear arsenals, "my question is... can we afford miscalculation?"</p><p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not specifically mention Pakistan in his first remarks about the latest conflict on Thursday. But he did emphasise India's military might and said that "the entire country is one and is standing with our soldiers."</p><p>Modi said: "When our enemy tries to destabilize the country, when terrorists attack - one of their goals is that our progress should stop, our country should stop moving ahead,"<span>&#xa0;</span><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/india/live-news/india-pakistan-kashmir-dle-intl/index.html">CNN reported</a>.</p><p>The US, the EU, and China, urged both countries to have restraint and to avoid any military escalation.</p><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-cohen-trump-explosive-claims-house-oversight-committee-2019-2">'He is a racist. He is a conman.' Michael Cohen's most explosive claims about Trump in his blockbuster hearing</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Pakistan offers to de-escalate conflict with India that teetered on the brink of war by returning pilot who was filmed blindfolded after capture

<ul><li>Indian Air Force: A Cut Above was launched in July this year to inspire youth to join the IAF.<br /></li><li>The game competes against nine other titles which have millions of downloads.<br /></li><li>Voting for the ‘Best Game 2019’ awards is live now.<br /></li></ul>Google has picked Indian Air Force’s video game to compete in the ‘Best Game 2019’ awards under the ‘Users’ Choice Game’ category. The IAF had launched a video game earlier this year in an attempt to attract and encourage the youth to join the airforce.<br /><br />The game ‘Indian Air Force: A Cut Above’ was launched on July 31 this year by the then Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa. The Indian Air Force <a href="https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1196613234771390464">took to Twitter</a> to urge its fans to vote for the IAF video game. The voting is currently underway, and it will go on for the next six days.<br /><br /><div type="twitter" handle="IAF_MCC" handlename="Indian Air Force" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/798477907316207617/dMQAtlFj_normal.jpg" favoritecount="1174" retweetcount="224" status="IAF's Video game- 'Indian Air Force: A Cut Above' has been selected by #Google to compete for 'Best Game-2019' in '… https://t.co/0LKca7MpEq" createdat="1574129801000" id="1196613234771390464"></div>

<br /><br /><br /><strong>Tough competition ahead<br /></strong><br />In the Users Choice Game <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/uservoting/Games%20-%20Best%20Of%202019%20User%20Voting%20Page?id=mc_bestof2019_uv_games_page">category</a>, the IAF video game is competing against nine other titles, including Call of Duty: Mobile, Angry Birds Dream Blast, RAID, Stick Cricket and more. Some of these games have racked up millions of downloads, so the IAF video game certainly has its task cut out.<br /><br />It is worth noting here that this is not the first video game made by the IAF. In 2014, the IAF had launched a game called ‘Guardian of the Skies’. The new IAF game is the sequel of sorts of the 2014 game, featuring improved graphics and technology.<br /><br /><strong>What is the IAF video game about?<br /></strong><br />In the IAF video game, you play the character of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who had downed a PAF F16 in the aftermath of the <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iaf-s-carries-out-laser-guided-strike-at-jaish-terror-camp-in-pakistan-sources/story-YDssaREtqFG0ZsAaSvIDgJ.html">Balakot airstrike</a>. In the ensuing dogfight, he crossed into Pakistani territory where his MiG-21 Bison was hit by a missile. He was captured by Pakistan and later released. A biopic is also being made on his incredible journey, and gamers can now impersonate him in the game, which can inspire the youth to join the forces. <br /><br /><br />

Indian Air Force’s video game goes up against Call of Duty and Angry Birds in Google’s competition

<ul><li><keyword id="2801660" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BARC-India">BARC India</keyword> released the second edition of its What India Watched report for 2019 which revealed that 2019 generated 48.4 trillion television viewing minutes and 1.59 billion seconds of advertising.</li><li>Despite the rollout of <keyword id="1711202" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="NTO">NTO</keyword>, each household watched 5 hours, 11 minutes of television every day in 2019.</li><li>Regional channels, sports and the news genre reported a steady growth.</li><li>While TV ad volumes saw a 3.6% drop, share of top 10 advertisers reported growth.</li></ul>The <keyword id="397085" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Broadcast-Audience-Research-Council">Broadcast Audience Research Council</keyword> (BARC) India revealed that 2019 generated 48.4 trillion television viewing minutes and 1.59 billion seconds of advertising. While Ad FCT at 1.6 billion seconds fell by 3.6% (over 2018), the share of Top 10 advertisers grew by 3.8%.<br /><br />The findings were a part of the second edition of BARC’s What India Watched report under which it measured 634 channels.Viewership has seen a 38% growth over the last four years. Each household watches 5 hours, 11 minutes of television every day and as many as 222 million individuals tune in to primetime television at any given minute. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The report also found that despite the rollout of a new tariff order (NTO), <keyword id="659577" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="TV-viewership">TV viewership</keyword> registered a growth in 2019. GEC and movies continued to account for 3/4th of TV viewership. This growth in viewership has given an impetus to regional language markets. <br /><br />Share of viewership of channels other than Hindi and the 4 South languages have risen steadily, from 15% in 2016 to 23% in 2019. Viewership of most regional language channels have doubled in the same period. English Language channels have seen a decline in viewership - one reason is that sports content - which was traditionally broadcast largely in English - is increasingly available in Hindi and regional languages. Here, viewership for Hindi language channels have grown by 31% in the last 4 years and contributed to 44% of total TV viewership in 2019 <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Growth of the news genre</strong><br /><br />2019 saw a 23% growth in viewing minutes for News Channels over the previous year, with the genre accounting for 8.9% of total television viewing - its highest share over the last four years. <br /><br />2019 was the year of General Elections, as well as polls to elect 7 State Assemblies. Earlier in the year, there was extensive news coverage of the Pulwama Terror Attack and the aftermath of that, including the Balakot Air Strike, and capture and release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.<br /><br /><br /><br />Later in the year, the triple talaq debate and the abrogation of Article 370 dominated headlines. Beyond political affairs, there were several other developments that drove news viewership in 2019 - severe rains and floods in many parts of the country, Chandrayaan-2, the Ardh Kumbh Mela and ICC World Cup Cricket. These ensured high viewer interest through the year, across the country. <br /><br />The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections and the run-up to government formation, Supreme Court decision on Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute and the controversy around Citizenship Amendment Act also led to successive viewership peaks for the news genre.<br /><br /><strong>Impact of NTO</strong><br /><br />On February 1 2019, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)'s New Tariff Order (NTO) for Broadcasting and Cable Services came into force. The report revealed that the NTO led to a drop in percentage of households that watched 30 channels or more on an average per week, while share of homes that watched 20 channels or less increased. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Growth of sports channels</strong><br /><br />In 2019, sports channels saw a growth of 17% (viewing minutes) over 2018. The genre contributed to 3.2% of total TV viewership in 2019 - which was the highest over the last 4 years. <br /><br />Beyond cricket, the most watched sports on TV are Kabaddi, Wrestling and Football. Together, they corner 85% of viewing minutes of non-cricket events. <br /><br />Moreover, in 2019, about 424 million viewers (which is 51% of the total TV viewing population) watched live matches of IPL-12. BARC India's Out of Home Measurement showed that an additional 9% watched the tournament in restaurants, pubs and other such ‘Out of Home’ locations. <br /><br /><strong>Urban vs Rural</strong><br /><br />BARC India's BI-2018 Survey estimated that 44% individuals with access to TV live in Urban areas, while 56% are in Rural India. This is an outcome of higher TV penetration in Urban areas, given that television ownership is linked largely to economic status (among other factors like availability of power, cable TV distribution etc.). <br /><br />The Urban and Rural viewer profile has some key differences, which influence the respective character of TV consumption: While Rural India accounts for a higher viewership share than Urban India for GEC and Movies genre, the picture is reversed for the kids genre. In News, the viewership contribution is split evenly between Urban and Rural.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Advertising on TV</strong><br /><br />Over the last 4 years, the volume of advertising on TV (FCT) has grown by 21%. In 2019, 11,525 Advertisers ran 76.8 million ads across 634 measured channels that reached out to 197 million homes across India. <br /><br />All leading products and services use TV's huge reach to connect with their target consumers. Of these, FMCG occupies the top slot, accounting for 54% of ad duration in 2019. FMCG and e-Commerce were the two segments that increased their ad volumes on TV in 2019 over the previous year. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In terms of genre share in advertising, GEC, Movies and News account for the largest share of Ad volumes (78% in 2019).<br />

Television ad volumes dropped by 3.6% in 2019, share of Top 10 advertisers grew by 3.8%: BARC India

<ul><li>On April 11, two constituencies from the state of Jammu &amp; Kashmir – Baramulla and Jammu – will go to polls. </li><li>For the state, which has been at the centre of terrorist attacks, violence by separatists, civil disobedience and protests, elections hold major significance. </li><li>The separatist mindset however continues to cloud the state’s democratic potential, directly or indirectly. </li></ul>Jammu and Kashmir, home to the world’s highest <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41432568">battleground</a>, has only six seats in the Indian Parliament, but it is almost always at the centre of the country’s political discourse. On April 11, two constituencies – Baramulla and Jammu – will go to polls. <br /><br />Both Baramulla and Jammu are important constituencies with over 1.3 million and 1.8 million voters respectively. <br /><br />For the state, which has been at the centre of terrorist attacks, violence by separatists, civil disobedience and protests, and the major point of contention between India and Pakistan, elections hold major significance. In Baramulla, colleges are shut for 7 days to ensure peaceful polling, whereas high security is in place across the state so as to avoid any violence during the elections. <br /><br />While Kashmiri separatists have called for <a href="https://www.thestatesman.com/elections-2019/separatists-call-boycott-lok-sabha-elections-beginning-thursday-1502744485.html">boycott of polls</a>, parties like Peoples Democratic Party and J&amp;K National Conference, have come to <a href="https://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/280319/separatists-poll-boycott-call-may-fall-flat.html">realise</a> that the boycott of polls only works in the benefit of other major parties like <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> and the Indian National Congress. <br /><br />The separatist mindset however continues to cloud the state’s democratic potential, directly or indirectly. On February 14, Pulwama saw one of the worst terrorist attacks in the history of the state with the death toll rising to over 40. Post the terrorist attack in Pulwama, over 100 Kashmiri separatists were <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-kashmir/more-than-100-separatists-detained-in-kashmir-raids-in-pre-election-crackdown-idUSKCN1QC070">detained </a>by the J&amp;K so that there are no anti-election campaigns. <br /><br />India then retaliated with the Balakot air strike, where Indian Air Force planes crossed the de facto border in Kashmir. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured after the air strike by the Pakistani army, which further riled up the hostility between the two countries. Pakistan had then released the Wing Commander. <br /><br />But for the people of Kashmir, elections mean hopefully making way for an improvement in the situation in the state. Baramulla has been subject to multiple <a href="http://risingkashmir.com/news/baramulla-faces-developmental-challenges">developmental</a> challenges and the people blame the administration for the lack of progress. <br /><br />The voter turnout in the Panchayat (local administration) elections in Kashmir held in December 2018 saw an average voter <a href="https://scroll.in/article/905364/a-closer-look-voter-turnout-numbers-do-not-tell-the-whole-story-of-kashmirs-panchayat-elections">turnout </a>of 74%. <br /><br />The manifestos of the two major political parties – INC and the BJP, both give prominence to Kashmir. <br /><br />However, It will be an uphill task for the BJP because neither of the regional parties are friendly with the incumbent government at the centre. <br /><br />The state has been under President’s rule since December 2018 (which was declared after 6 months of Governor’s rule) and now, the Assembly elections have been reportedly pushed till June 2019. This was because of the fallout in the regional alliance between the central government’s ruling party BJP and the PDP. One of the major reasons behind the fallout between the two parties was the Kathua rape incident where an eight-year old girl was raped. Two senior BJP ministers, Lal Singh and Prakash Chander Ganga had then participated in a rally that supported of the accused in the case. <br /><br />Further, the BJP manifesto’s promise to revoke <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bjp-manifesto-released-for-2019-lok-sabha-elections/articleshow/68774925.cms">the special status of J&amp;K and revoke Article 35-A, </a>which confers special rights on J&amp;K residents especially in the acquisition of property and eligibility for public sector jobs, will also be an overhang on the party’s chances in the valley. However, this is not the first time BJP has promised this. In 2014, the party had put the repealing of Article 370, which gives autonomous status to the state, in its manifesto. But it still managed to gain ground in the state elections held after that. <br /><br />The Congress party has said in its manifesto that the two acts will not be touched while the AFSPA and Disturbed Areas Act will be reviewed. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which gives the Army the power in disturbed areas, was implemented in Kashmir in 1990 and since then, has been a point of debate in the state. <br /><br /><strong>See Also:</strong><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-election-2019-for-jammu-and-kashmir/articleshow/68637078.cms">Lok Sabha Election 2019 candidate list for Jammu and Kashmir</a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bjp-manifesto-released-for-2019-lok-sabha-elections/articleshow/68774925.cms">Narendra Modi's election manifesto packs larger doles and a rosy narrative</a><br />

Elections 2019: Democracy’s appeal is under test in the shadow of the world’s highest battleground

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Comedian Trevor Noah apologized for making a Bollywood joke about the conflict between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan that could have ended in war.</strong></li><li><strong> Noah said: "If they did go to war it would probably be most entertaining war of all time," and pretended to be an Indian solider singing and dancing.</strong></li><li><strong>Noah later apologized, but pointed out that his joke "trended more than the story of the actual conflict itself."</strong></li><li><strong>Tensions rose sharply between India and Pakistan, which have fought multiple wars, leaving world leaders urging caution. At least 10 people died in shelling at the border in Kashmir.</strong></li></ul><p>Comedian Trevor Noah apologized for making a Bollywood joke about the conflict between India and Pakistan which brought the nuclear rivals closer to another war and left more than 10 people dead in related fighting.</p><p>On "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah," Noah said that he did not want the two countries to go to war, but "i&gt;f they did go to war it would probably be most entertaining war of all time."</p><p>Noah said that in the event of war, Indian soldiers would enter the battlefield singing "time for you to die," before miming an Indian soldier dancing and singing in the style typical of Bollywood, the huge Indian film industry that often incorporates song and dance.</p><p>Noah joked that "it would also be the longest war of all time - another dance number!"</p><p>Watch the clip below. Noah begins to talk about the situation between India and Pakistan at two minutes into the video:</p><p>Tensions sharply rose between the two nuclear rivals after a February 14 attack in the disputed Kashmir region, carried out by a terrorist group based in Pakistan, that killed at least 40 Indian troops.</p><p>The two countries then shot each others' jets out of the sky, and Pakistan captured an Indian pilot on Wednesday. Pakistan <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indian-pilot-returned-pakistan-deescalate-conflict-ate-secret-documents-reports-2019-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">returned the pilot on Friday as a "peace gesture</a>."</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indian-pilot-returned-pakistan-deescalate-conflict-ate-secret-documents-reports-2019-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">Indian fighter pilot returned by Pakistan after wild ordeal where he was shot down over enemy territory and reportedly ate sensitive documents to keep them secret</a></em></p><p>Noah apologized for the joke on Saturday, tweeting: "As a comedian I use comedy to process pain and discomfort in my world but I am sorry that this hurt you and others, that's not what I was trying to do."</p><p>He also pointed out the irony that his joke "trended more than the story of the actual conflict itself."</p><p>"Sometimes it seems like people are more offended by the jokes comedians make about an issue than the issue itself," Noah said.</p><p>Critics called Noah's joke "<a href="https://twitter.com/siddharth3/status/1102088525380386823">racist</a>" and wrote under Comedy Central UK's official YouTube video that Noah was trying to make war "funny" and that he was "reducing a whole country to a movie industry."</p><p>One commenter wrote on YouTube: "Dear Trevor Noah, I am an Indian. I found all your shows funny except this one. War is not funny. My state is very close to Pakistan and you should come and see the tension here. WAR IS NOT AN ENTERTAINMENT."</p><p>"The conditions here are really bad. Please don't call war an entertainment as we've fought many battles with Pakistan and we know that it's not funny. It's not 'entertainment' [because] it results in nothing but bloodshed and loss."</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>World leaders urged caution as tensions mounted between India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars over the Kashmir before. They took place in 1947, 1965, and 1999.</p><p>The two countries have blamed one another for each attack and offered conflicting accounts of the clashes over the past three weeks.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-pakistan-conflict-flights-canceled-rerouted-airspace-closed-2019-2" data-analytics-position="4">Thousands of flights were canceled or rerouted when Pakistan shut down its airspace after shooting down Indian military planes</a></em></p><p>Troops fired across Kashmir's Line of Control between the two countries, with at least eight civilians and two soldiers killed in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir since last Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.</p><p>Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since both countries gained independence from British rule in 1947. Both countries claim the territory in its entirety.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>Pakistan's foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2019/02/28/amanpour-shah-mehmood-qureshi.cnn">told CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Thursday</a> that had the conflict escalated into war, it would have been "mutual suicide."</p><p>The country's prime minister, Imran Khan, <a href="https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1QG0IQ">also questioned whether the countries</a> could "afford miscalculation" given the devastation that could be caused by their nuclear arsenals.</p><p>India, by contrast, has remained relatively silent over the course of the conflict.</p><p>Pakistan shut down its entire airspace last week but has since reopened parts of it. The country said that it will take action against militant groups operating on its soil, Reuters reported, in a sign that tensions are de-escalating since the return of the Indian pilot.</p><div></div><div></div><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-15-presidents-historians-survey-abraham-lincoln-george-washington-lyndon-johnson-barack-obama-ronald-reagan-2017-2">The top 15 presidents according to historians</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

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