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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Despite pressure from Western allies, India has refused to isolate Russia over the Ukraine war.</li><li>India's Narendra Modi this week spoke with both Ukraine's and Russia's leaders.</li></ul>When <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/narendra-modi-won-already-seeing-cost-him-allies-cabinet-funding-2024-6">Narendra Modi</a> visited Ukraine over the weekend, he greeted its president Volodymyr Zelenskyy with an exuberant bear hug.He did the same <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-india-modi-putin-hug-west-isolation-big-blow-2024-7">to Vladimir Putin</a> only weeks ago when he traveled to Moscow to meet the Russian president, much to the anger of Zelenskyy."It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day," Zelenskyy wrote on X at the time.Modi's visits to both Ukraine and Russia characterize his relentless ambiguity on the Ukraine war. He has not condemned nor supported the invasion and is now acting as a peacemaker.The diplomatic highwire act highlights the dilemma Modi faces as he seeks to balance pressure from the US to show more support for Ukraine against <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/modi-putin-russia-india-relationship-not-worried-us-biden-mad-2024-7">maintaining good ties with Russia.</a><h2 id="5631f287-50fa-42fc-9492-15da89d39bf8">A quick end to the war</h2>In the wake of the Ukraine trip, Modi called Putin. In a post on X, Modi said he reiterated "India's firm commitment to support an early, abiding and peaceful resolution of the conflict."Dinakar Peri, a fellow at the Council for Strategic and Defense Research, told Business Insider that Modi's Ukraine visit was high on symbolism."Although the image of India being a peacemaker is largely rhetoric, the fact of the matter is that India is definitely uniquely positioned in comparison to many other countries due to the kind of bandwidth they have with Russia," said Peri.Rahul Bhatia, an analyst with the Eurasia Group, told BI that while India is reluctant to come down on one side in the Ukraine war, it sees grave dangers in a prolonged conflict in Ukraine."India has sought to take a balanced approach to the war in Ukraine. New Delhi wants to maintain its relationship with Russia regardless of its diplomatic isolation," said Bhatia.<h2 id="bb68f21a-9c73-4a16-a530-190e801237c5">India's ties with the Kremlin are tested</h2>Modi's insistence on not taking a side in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-murder-convict-ivan-rossomakhin-kills-again-joins-army-wagner-2024-8">Ukraine</a> is likely to baffle and frustrate many Western observers, but analysts say there are vital economic and strategic goals behind India's position.India has long had <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-bid-undermine-global-ukraine-support-working-zelenskyy-peace-2024-6">close diplomatic ties with Russia</a>. During the Cold War, it relied on the Kremlin for military support while the US-backed regional rival Pakistan.It now depends on Russia for oil supplies, surpassing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/xi-china-putin-russia-frenemies-limits-power-sphere-influence-2024-7">China</a> this week to become Russia's top oil importer."Most of the oil India imports from Russia is actually going to Europe," said Peri. "India is just a conduit — the oil is refined here, and the refined petroleum products are going to Europe as we speak.""In that way, India has played the middle role of stabilizing the larger global economy, which would otherwise have gone for a toss."Peri also pointed out India's dependence on Russia for military equipment, as well as upgrades and spare parts."Around 60% of Indian military equipment is of Russian origin," said Peri. "We have received a lot from other countries in the last few decades, like France, Israel, and increasingly so from the US, but we're still heavily Russian-oriented."But the Ukraine war has shaken up India's relations with the Kremlin.The US is pressuring India to help isolate Putin as punishment for the Ukraine invasion, and India is worried about the Kremlin's increasingly close relationship with China, which has backed Russia amid the Ukraine invasion."India-US ties are not just about Russia or the war in Ukraine," said Peri. "They're also about trade and strategic cooperation, which in some cases is also underpinned by concerns over China or the larger developments in the Indo-Pacific."<h2 id="4c3050d8-adb0-46af-b14f-2689f19f7caa">India sees Russia as a buffer against China's aggression</h2>India has long been concerned about China's increasing aggressiveness in Asia, with a Himalayan border dispute erupting into clashes that left 24 people dead in 2020.Indian and Chinese militaries have been engaged in a standoff on the disputed region of Ladakh since 2020. Although the countries have disengaged on several points, the standoff has continued.Peri said that is India dependent on good ties with the Kremlin to help mitigate that threat: "The standoff created new dynamics for India, and those are all factors which will be in Indian calculations on the stand it takes."Bhatia agreed that India has an eye on China when it engages with Russia. "While New Delhi accepts that Russia and China will gradually grow closer, it believes that maintaining a good relationship with Moscow will ensure that Russia remains neutral when India-China border tensions flare up," he said.It also relies on close ties with the US to help counter China's aggression, reviving the "Quad" dialogue with the US, Australia, and Japan in 2017 to counter China's threat.In the meantime, Modi will likely continue India's tightrope act, maintaining its alliance with the US while seeking not to alienate the Kremlin as it warily watches China's growing might.

India's refusal to take a side in the Ukraine war is frustrating the West. But it has its reasons.

<keyword id="6354785" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="france" source="Orion">France</keyword> wants to be <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>'s "best partner" in boosting its <keyword id="2377476" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="defence-manufacturing" source="Orion">defence manufacturing</keyword> and has decided to share the <keyword id="15204665" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="best-technologies-and-equipment" source="Orion">best technologies and equipment</keyword> in sync with the growing "trust" between the two sides, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said. Without divulging specific details, the envoy said French and Indian companies are working together on "equipment of the future", platforms and engines. "I do not think any country provides India with the same level of technology. The progress is also due to the fact that we recognise that India wants to boost its strategic autonomy, wants to build its industrial base and we want to be India's best partner in this move," he told PTI. Indo-French strategic ties have been on a major upswing after India inked an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for the procurement of 36 Rafale jets at a cost of around Rs 59,000 crore. "Defence has always been a very strong component of our cooperation because there is a lot of trust between our two countries. When you want to work on these issues, you need trust because you commit yourself for 10, 20, 30 years," Lenain said. "This trust is the main asset that we have. Defence cooperation has been developing very well because we are very comfortable with India and we have decided that we could share our best technology, state-of-the-art equipment, best-in-class technology," he said. The two sides are now looking at further bolstering the strategic partnership in view of the evolving global geo-political landscape triggered by the crisis in Ukraine and developments in the Indo-Pacific region. "From the beginning, we were the best partners in the Make-in-India policy. Now that India is switching to the Atma Nirbhar policy, we are also there for India," Lenain said. He said France is ready to co-develop equipment with India and share know-how. "Our companies are working together on the equipment of the future, on engines, on different sorts of equipment. It is very positive for both industries," he said. Lenain chose not to give a direct reply when asked about the possibility of the Indian Air Force procuring additional Rafales and whether France was also looking at supplying the naval version of the jet to the Indian Navy. "We are talking, and again, we are very much willing to provide state-of-the-art equipment. Everything is on the table and we do our best," he said. French aerospace major Safran has already set the ball rolling to set up its biggest maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Hyderabad with an investment of around USD 305 million. "It is a partnership of equals and it is a partnership to boost each other's strategic autonomy," Lenain said. Ways to expand defence and security cooperation figured during French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna's visit to India last month. In December last year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said France has agreed to jointly build aircraft engine with India. In 2017, India unveiled the ambitious strategic partnership (SP) model to facilitate joint ventures between select private Indian firms and foreign defence majors to build military platforms like submarines and fighter jets in India. The SP model aims to create a vibrant defence manufacturing ecosystem in the country through joint ventures between Indian corporates and global defence majors. The government has initiated a series of measures in the last few years to boost domestic defence manufacturing. In March, the defence ministry said it plans to procure military equipment worth Rs five lakh crore from the domestic industries in the next five to seven years in line with its policy of promoting indigenous defence manufacturing. India has been one of the largest importers of arms globally. According to estimates, the Indian armed forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion (one billion is equal to 100 crores) in capital procurement in the next five years. The government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and has decided to support domestic defence manufacturing. The defence ministry has set a goal of a turnover of USD 25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing in the next five years, including an export target of USD 5 billion worth of military hardware. SEE ALSO:

France wants to be India's best partner in defence manufacturing: French envoy Lenain

Star player <keyword id="20634482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="manika-batra" source="keywords">Manika Batra</keyword> led from the front as <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> prevailed over higher-ranked <keyword id="19986770" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Romania" source="keywords">Romania</keyword> 3-2 in a thrilling tie and made a memorable entry into the <keyword id="20288129" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="quarterfinals" source="keywords">quarterfinals</keyword> of the <keyword id="22675317" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="womens-table-tennis" source="keywords">women's table tennis</keyword> team competition at the <keyword id="19916613" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris" source="keywords">Paris</keyword> <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword> here on Monday. Leading 2-0, India saw Romania fight back to draw level at 2-2 but in the decider, Manika delivered for her side. <keyword id="20614713" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sreeja-Akula" source="keywords">Sreeja Akula</keyword> and <keyword id="22155129" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Archana-Kamath" source="keywords">Archana Kamath</keyword> started the proceedings with a 11-9 12-10 11-7 win over Adina Diaconu and Elizabeta Samara in a doubles match. Manika made short work of higher-ranked Bernadette Szocs in a 11-5 11-7 11-7 victory as India took a comfortable 2-0 lead in the tie against their fourth-seeded opponents. India are seeded 11th in the competition. In the second singles match however, things did not go in India's favour as Sreeja went down 2-3 (11-8 4-11 11-7 6-11 8-11) to European champion Samara after winning the first game. Sreeja's defeat paved the way for a face-off between Archana and Bernadette and the latter won the first game 11-5, but the Indian bagged the second 11-8 to restore parity. However, Bernadette won the next two games 11-7 11-9 to clinch the match and send the tie to the decider. Manika then blanked Adina 3-0 (11-5 11-9 11-9) to seal the tie in India's favour. India will be up against either the USA or Germany in the quarter-finals. Japan, Poland, France and Thailand are also on the same side of the draw. Last week, both Manika and Sreeja scripted table tennis history by becoming the first Indian players to reach the round of 16 in the individual event at the Olympics. The two, however, could not progress beyond that stage, losing to higher-ranked opponents.

Paris Olympics: Manika-led India beat Romania 3-2 to enter quarterfinals of women's table tennis team event

<keyword id="46894" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tata-sons" source="Orion">Tata Sons</keyword> Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has been honoured with France's highest order of merit, Legion d'Honneur, for bolstering relations and building business between India and France. The award was conferred on Chandrasekaran, 59, on Tuesday at the Foreign Ministry in Paris by Minister <keyword id="14065140" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="catherine-colonna" source="Orion">Catherine Colonna</keyword>, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs. He was accompanied by his wife Lalitha and son Pranav. "<keyword id="6355725" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tata-group" source="Orion">Tata Group</keyword> is a major player in the Franco-Indian partnership: I had the pleasure of presenting its CEO, on behalf of the President of the Republic, with the insignia of Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur. Dear Natarajan Chandrasekaran, you are a friend of France," Colonna tweeted after presenting the award. "Dear Natarajan Chandrasekaran, you are a true friend of France," Ambassador of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain tweeted. The Legion of Honour is the highest French order of merit, both civil and military. It was established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte. France is one of India's largest scientific partners, with over 25 R&amp;D centres, 15 joint Indo-French research laboratories, and 500 collaborative projects in the country. There are currently 10 <keyword id="8555" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="tata" source="Orion">Tata</keyword> group companies operating in France, according to Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) Director General Payal S. Kanwar. "The Tata family has deep-rooted ties with France right from JRD Tata who was half French and born in Paris to <keyword id="201933" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="simone-tata" source="Orion">Simone Tata</keyword> who was incidentally one of the founders of IFCCI. The recent historic order of 250 Airbus A320neos and A350s along with 800 Safran motors for Air India has further boosted business between both countries!" Kanwar wrote on her Instagram. Last year, Chandrasekaran got a five-year extension as the chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company and promoter of more than 100 Tata operating companies with aggregate annual revenues of more than $100 billion. He also chairs the boards of several group operating companies, including Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Power, Tata Global Beverages, Indian Hotels Company and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), of which he was chief executive from 2009-17. In addition to his professional career at Tata, Chandra was also appointed as a director on the board of India's central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, in 2016. He was appointed on the International Advisory Council of Singapore's Economic Development Board in 2018. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/ondc-not-an-immediate-risk-for-zomato-and-swiggy-as-lower-prices-are-due-to-discounts/articleshow/100298963.cms">ONDC not an immediate risk for Zomato and Swiggy as lower prices are due to discounts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/five-reason-why-markets-will-not-run-up-further-from-here/articleshow/100294718.cms">Five reasons why markets will not run up further from here</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indias-super-rich-will-double-in-numbers-to-1-6-million-by-2027-knight-frank/articleshow/100298454.cms">India’s super rich will double in numbers to 1.6 million by 2027: Knight Frank</a>

Tata Sons chairman Chandrasekaran bestowed with France's highest civilian award

The <keyword id="543532" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="OP-Jindal-Global-University" source="Orion">OP Jindal Global University</keyword> (<keyword id="543534" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jgu" source="Orion">JGU</keyword>) has achieved the milestone of building international collaborations with 288 universities across the <keyword id="174513" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="g20-countries" source="Orion">G20 countries</keyword>. This unique initiative signifies JGU's resolute commitment to embracing a more interconnected world, transcending geographical boundaries to cultivate a diverse and inclusive academic environment. This remarkable initiative perfectly aligns with the shared vision of the G20 countries for interconnected higher education systems. With a focus on fostering cooperation and facilitating knowledge exchange on a global scale, this initiative is set to transform the world of higher education. The G20, comprises the world's foremost economic powers, as a means to tackle global issues and foster sustainable development. JGU's strategic decision to forge partnerships with universities in the G20 nations showcases its unwavering commitment to fostering international academic collaborations and propelling the growth of the global knowledge landscape. This has created unparalleled opportunities for the students and faculty of JGU to collaborate with world-class universities across G20 countries. As India's global university with over 10,000 students from more than 70 countries and over 1,100 full-time faculty members from more than 50 countries, JGU has forged fruitful partnerships with reputed universities and higher education institutions within the G20 countries across all continents. ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/students-of-op-jindal-university-up-in-arms-as-viral-video-shows-canteen-staff-crushing-potatoes-with-feet/articleshow/103201562.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Students of OP Jindal University up in arms as viral video shows canteen staff crushing potatoes with feet</a> They include Universidad Torcuato Di Tella and Austral University in Argentina; the University of Cape Town and the University of South Africa in South Africa; University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, Monash University, University of Sydney, University of Queensland in Australia; the Federal University of Pernambuco and Fundacao Getulio Vargas in Brazil; York University, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary and the University of Guelph in Canada; Tsinghua University and Peking University in China; Humboldt University Berlin and University of Hamburg, Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany; Airlangga University, Jenderal Soedirman University in Indonesia; University of Bologna, Sapienza University in Italy; Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Nambu University in South Korea; Mexico Autonomous Institute of Technology-ITAM, University of Guadalajara in Mexico; Saint Petersburg State University, Far Eastern Federal University, HSE University in Russia; King's College London, University of Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, University of Edinburgh, University of Southampton, University of Birmingham in the UK; Tokiwa University, Yamanashi Gakuin University in Japan; KOC University, Sabancı University in Turkey; Harvard University, Cornell University, University of Michigan, Indiana University, University of California-Davis, University of Southern California, Columbia University, University of Arizona, Seattle University, University of Virginia in the US; Sciences Po, Catholic University of Lille in France and a number of other universities across the G20. The G20 Education Working Group focuses primarily on ensuring literacy and numeracy, digital technologies for human development, education and the future of work, and international education collaboration. Their educational policies place an emphasis on excellence, equality and global engagement. Similarly, JGU's internationalization initiatives prioritize instilling in our students and faculty members these values that unite the G20 countries for the common good of human development. JGU's initiatives within G20 countries include student exchange programmes and research internship programmes that provides students with opportunities for field-specific research experience and academic engagements along with hosting scholars for research and students from G20 countries for the India Immersion Programmes in a diverse set of thematic areas. This is further supplemented with faculty-level collaborations for research publications, joint conferences and several similar academic endeavours in line with G20's mission of promoting lifelong learning in technology, global collaboration, diversity, excellence and equality. JGU's international collaborations have been established with the primary objective of providing students and faculty with valuable international opportunities to seamlessly enter into a global arena of opportunities. With the addition of these new collaborations, JGU's global partnership network has grown significantly, now boasting over 400 institutional partnerships in over 70 countries. In consonance JGU's commitment to internationalisation and the G20 vision for connected and collaborative higher education, these partnerships not only promote faculty and student exchanges but also contribute to research collaborations, enabling a global interchange of knowledge and ideas. A total of 1,100 JGU students have been involved in study abroad programmes over the last three academic years. These programmes include semester exchanges, dual degree opportunities, and short-term study abroad initiatives. Even for the faculty members, several opportunities for joint research projects and paper publications have been materialised in which around 50 faculty members have been involved. Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, shared the driving force behind the initiative. "From its inception, JGU's commitment to internationalisation was driven by our strong belief in the transformative power of global higher education. Our belief was bolstered with the vision of India's presidency of the G20 which highlighted the need to foster a dynamic, interconnected world of exchange and opportunity. "We have strived to be ambassadors of this vision and commandeered our efforts towards forming meaningful partnerships with the leading universities, the intellectual epicentres of the G20 nations. As India's presidency reaches its zenith, it is a proud moment for JGU to announce this remarkable landmark of forging 288 institutional partnerships across G20 countries," he added. Professor (Dr.) Mohan Kumar, Dean, Strategic &amp; International Initiatives and Director, Jindal Global Centre for G20 Studies, JGU said: "The O.P. Jindal Global University, coinciding with the New Delhi <keyword id="42982" type="General" weightage="40" keywordseo="g20-summit" source="Orion">G20 Summit</keyword> has launched a commendable initiative of forging partnerships with G20 Universities. Nothing can be more powerful than this for demonstrating the validity of '<keyword id="1795542" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vasudhaiva-kutumbakam" source="Orion">Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam</keyword>' and 'One Earth, One Family, One Future', which is the theme of the New Delhi G20 Summit. The future of the world lies in the hands of the youth and this initiative by O.P. Jindal Global University seeks to build an interconnected future for the students of the G20 Countries." Dr. Akhil Bhardwaj, Director of the Office of International Affairs and Global Collaborations, JGU said: "The Office of International Affairs &amp; Global Initiatives at JGU is deeply committed to continue expanding our partnerships' network, creating valuable opportunities for our students to study in the best and leading Universities across the globe as part of their respective degree programmes at JGU. "We are conscious of ensuring that our international collaborations have a meaningful impact on the life of our students and faculty members and hence, significant efforts are undertaken to implement these collaborations that we have established over the years."

OP Jindal Global University ties up with 288 varsities in G20 nations

Paris [France], March 30 (ANI): Director General of the <keyword id="20681418" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="european-space-agency" source="keywords">European Space Agency</keyword> (<keyword id="191401" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ESA" source="Orion">ESA</keyword>), <keyword id="21132866" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="josef-aschbacher" source="keywords">Josef Aschbacher</keyword>, has heaped praise on the <keyword id="19915130" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-space-research-organisation" source="keywords">Indian Space Research Organisation</keyword> (<keyword id="6358064" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ISRO" source="Orion">ISRO</keyword>) for its recent successful launches and said that India's accomplishments in space and especially in lunar exploration is 'astonishing'. Aschbacher posted an appreciation post on X, after ESA hosted its 323rd Council meeting in Paris which was attended by the ISRO Chairman, S Somanath. ESA Member States met in Paris, France, for the 323rd session of the ESA Council on March 26 and 27, 2024. The European scientist also underscored that the significance of strengthening ties and deepening cooperation with international partners cannot be underestimated. "What India is accomplishing in space - especially in Lunar exploration - is astonishing. We hosted ISRO's Chairman, Dr. S. Somanath at ESA Council today. It was a milestone occasion for Delegates to learn more about current and future plans for ESA-ISRO cooperation," he posted on X. "The strategic importance of strengthening ties and deepening cooperation with international partners cannot be underestimated," he added. <div type="twitter" handle="AschbacherJosef" handlename="AschbacherJosef" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1773071288686264521"></div> Additionally, Astronaut <keyword id="20326710" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="thomas-pesquet" source="keywords">Thomas Pesquet</keyword> also shared about meeting with the ISRO chairman and the ESA Director and said that they witnessed enthusiastic exchanges between the two leaders. "Very proud to welcome ISRO chairman Shri. S. Somanath at ESA HQ in Paris yesterday, with our director Josef Aschbacher. Enthusiastic exchanges between the two men, and abounding cooperation opportunities between the two organisations. Let's co-travel to space together!" he posted on X. <div type="twitter" handle="Thom_astro" handlename="Thom_astro" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1773399899498803577"></div> In a stellar display of prowess, India soared to new heights in 2023 with the successful soft landing of <keyword id="8011274" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrayaan-3" source="Orion">Chandrayaan-3</keyword> on the South Pole of the Moon and the launch of <keyword id="5998804" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-L1" source="Orion">Aditya-L1</keyword>, India's first solar mission. These milestones not only secured India's standing in the global space economy but also fueled the engines for the private space sector in India. On August 23, 2023, the Chandrayaan-3 mission created history with the successful soft landing on Moon's surface. India is now the first nation to reach near the Moon's unexplored South Pole and ranks amongst the top four nations to carry out a soft landing on the lunar surface. Chandrayaan-3 is India's third lunar mission and the second attempt to land softly on the moon's surface. It's part of the Chandrayaan program, a series of missions developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to explore the moon. The mission consists of a Vikram lunar lander, a Pragyan lunar rover, and a propulsion module that carries the spacecraft from Earth orbit to lunar orbit. Additionally, in a major milestone, India placed its first dedicated solar mission, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, in the Halo orbit. The country went gaga over this historic achievement, especially since this mission came at the back of India's moon landing, the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Aditya-L1 reached Lagrange Point L1 which is about 1.5 million km from earth. The PSLV-C57.1 rocket carrying the Aditya-L1 orbiter lifted off successfully from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, in September.

European Space Agency Director praises ISRO, calls India's accomplishments in space "astonishing"

The <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank of India" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) along with <keyword id="19998946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPCI" source="keywords">NPCI</keyword> international payments ltd (NIPL) will work towards taking <keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI" source="keywords">UPI</keyword> to 20 countries by FY29. RBI Annual report says possibilities will be explored for increasing the global footprints of UPI and <keyword id="19907221" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RuPay" source="keywords">RuPay</keyword>. "In light of goals for Viksit Bharat 2047, the Reserve Bank, along with NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) will work towards taking UPI to 20 countries with initiation timeline of 2024-25 and completion timeline of 2028-29," the report said. The RBI report further adds "Fast Payment System (FPS) collaboration with group of countries like European Union and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), as well as multilateral linkages will be explored". The Payments Vision Document 2025 of RBI has outlined expanding the global outreach of UPI and RuPay cards as one of the key objectives under the internationalisation pillar. The Reserve Bank is in talks with central banks of various countries for entering into collaborative arrangements. In July 2023, the Reserve Bank and the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for interlinking their payments infrastructure. Under this MoU, India and UAE have agreed to cooperate on linking their Fast Payment Systems, UPI of India with Instant Payment Platform (IPP) of UAE called Aani. Both countries also agreed to link their respective Card Switches (RuPay switch and UAESWITCH). In February 2024, RuPay cards and UPI connectivity between India and Mauritius was launched. With this connectivity, an Indian traveller to Mauritius will be able to pay a merchant in Mauritius using UPI apps. Similarly, a Mauritian traveller will be able to do the same in India using the instant payment system apps of Mauritius In February 2024, UPI connectivity between India and Sri Lanka was launched. This connectivity has enabled Indian travellers to make QR code-based payments at merchant locations in Sri Lanka using UPI apps. The Reserve Bank of India and Nepal Rastra Bank are also exploring the linkage of UPI platform of India and National Payments Interface of Nepal for enabling cross-border payments. In June 2023, NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) and Nepal Clearing House Ltd. (NCHL) signed a MoU for the purpose UPI payment through QR code is already accepted for merchant (e-commerce) payments in France and Nepal. India has some or other kinds of tie-ups with seven countries for making payments through UPI. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-cars-and-two-wheelers-launching-in-india-in-june-2024/slidelist/110591467.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-cars-and-two-wheelers-launching-in-india-in-june-2024/slidelist/110591467.cms" target="_blank">Upcoming cars and two-wheelers launching in India in June 2024</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/lok-sabha-exit-poll-2024-what-are-they-when-will-they-be-announced-and-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/110565608.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/lok-sabha-exit-poll-2024-what-are-they-when-will-they-be-announced-and-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/110565608.cms" target="_blank">Lok Sabha Exit Poll 2024 – what are they, when will they be announced and all you need to know</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/huawei-beats-samsung-to-take-the-top-spot-in-global-foldable-smartphone-shipments/articleshow/110583786.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/huawei-beats-samsung-to-take-the-top-spot-in-global-foldable-smartphone-shipments/articleshow/110583786.cms" target="_blank">Huawei beats Samsung to take the top spot in global foldable smartphone shipments</a>

RBI is working on expanding UPI to 20 countries by 2028-29: RBI Annual Report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>India has long been one of the world's biggest arms buyers, relying on others to equip its forces.</li><li>But New Delhi is investing heavily in domestic production to arm itself and export to the world.</li></ul>India has long been the world's largest arms importer, relying on other countries to supply it with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-china-buying-new-light-tanks-for-himalayan-mountain-warfare-2023-6">tanks</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/first-jet-landing-on-vikrant-reflect-indian-aircraft-carrier-ambitions-2023-2">warships</a>, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indian-air-force-modernization-not-only-because-of-china-2021-9">fighter jets</a>. But it has been investing heavily in its domestic arms industry with the goal of equipping its own forces and increasing its arms sales around the world.New Delhi has made headway toward that goal with its "Make in India, Make for the World" initiative, launched in 2020, and by forging closer defense relationships with other countries.India's need to wean itself off its heavy dependency on arms imports became more apparent after Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022. New Delhi still has close ties with Moscow but the war has made the Russians less dependable suppliers.Recent arms sales and exercises illustrate how India seeks to turn that domestic arms production into foreign sales and perhaps even take some of that market away from its biggest supplier.<h2>Shopping around</h2><div type="image" title="India army soldier Pinaka rocket launcher parade" height="1333" width="2000" msid="104092852" hostid="261" sizebytes="141000"></div>In September 2022, India agreed to sell its powerful Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers to Armenia — the first foreign export of the Pinaka — along with anti-tank missiles and assorted ammunition in a $260 million deal.That sale came two and a half years after Armenia bought four of India's Swathi counter-battery radars, which track incoming artillery and rockets and plot return fire, for $40 million, choosing the Indian option over equivalent Polish and Russian systems in what was considered <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-pips-russia-and-poland-for-40m-armenia-defence-deal/articleshow/74432148.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a big achievement</a> for the then-nascent Make in India program.New Delhi's aspirations for <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/centres-new-plan-to-boost-exports-of-made-in-india-weapons-to-africa-middle-east/articleshow/100054640.cms?from=mdr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a foothold in the African and Middle East arms markets</a> would undoubtedly get a boost from a sizable arms deals with Egypt. Over the past decade, Egypt has spent large sums on high-end weapons systems, primarily from France and Russia. Between 2015 and 2019, <a href="https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/egypt-and-allure-military-power" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Egypt was the world's third-largest arms importer</a>.India has been improving its ties with Egypt, as seen in their expanded military exchanges.<div type="image" title="India Narendra Modi Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Cairo" height="1479" width="1977" msid="104092853" hostid="261" sizebytes="91154"></div>India's air force and navy participated in Egypt's Bright Star-23, a multilateral military exercise, in September. It was the first time India had joined, and during the drills, an Indian air force Il-78 tanker <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/exercise-bright-star-23-indian-air-force-refuels-egyptian-rafale-fighters/articleshow/103603060.cms?from=mdr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">refueled</a> Egyptian MiG-29M and Rafale fighters — Russian- and French-made jets, respectively.That refueling underscored the degree of interoperability the militaries have developed and illustrated the countries' rapidly growing defense ties — ties that may translate into arms sales, particularly of India's domestically developed weapons.In January, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi visited New Delhi and met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-25/india-hosts-egypt-s-sisi-as-it-looks-to-increase-defense-sales" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discussed</a> "defense platforms" and "equipment-related linkages" and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-egypt-will-seek-deepen-military-co-operation-foreign-secretary-2023-01-25/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deepening cooperation</a> between their militaries and defense industries.In June, Modi visited Egypt, the first visit to Cairo by an Indian leader <a href="https://www.newarab.com/analysis/why-india-and-egypt-are-forging-new-strategic-relationship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since 1997</a>, where the two leaders decided to boost cooperation in several fields, <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-meets-egypt-s-sisi-to-deepen-bilateral-ties-101687718543603.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">including security and technology</a>. During Modi's visit, a former Indian Air Force chief <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-egypt-can-cooperate-in-field-of-military-rd-manufacturing-former-iaf-chief-on-pm-modis-state-visit/articleshow/101245090.cms?from=mdr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Indian media</a> that the countries were eager to cooperate on military research, development, and manufacturing.<div type="image" title="Egypt air force fighter jet India tanker refueling" height="1000" width="1500" msid="104092854" hostid="261" sizebytes="39568"></div>"There is a very significant possibility of exporting weapon systems, sensors and platforms and also supporting Egypt" in its efforts to "building up their own industrial complex," the former air force chief was quoted as saying, noting their "commonalities of equipment, and thinking."There have been reports that India is interested in <a href="https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2023/02/14/hal-pushing-for-lca-tejas-deal-with-malaysia-argentina-and-egypt-show-interest.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">selling Egypt about 20</a> its Tejas light multi-role combat jets and in setting up production lines for that aircraft and for Indian-made helicopters in Egypt.In February, the chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which makes the Tejas, <a href="https://www.egyptdefenceexpo.com/news/hal-egypt-tejas-aircraft-contract-works" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the company was in talks to supply 35 Tejas Mk-1As to Egypt alongside a complete technology transfer that would enable Cairo to build the aircraft locally. (Egypt and India collaborated on development of the Helwan HA-300 light supersonic interceptor in the 1960s, but that project was ultimately canceled.)India has also shown interest in exporting its domestically developed Akash medium-range air-defense system and the BrahMos cruise missile to a number of countries, <a href="https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/02/egypt-india-russia-made-brahmos-missile-system-weapons.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">including Egypt</a>. Brahmos is a joint Indian-Russian venture and officials are now <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/india-russia-joint-venture-hopes-5-bln-supersonic-missile-exports-by-2025-2022-10-18/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">angling for billions</a> in foreign sales of it.<h2>Cashing in on the value market</h2><div type="image" title="India Narendra Modi helicopter factory" height="1157" width="2000" msid="104092855" hostid="261" sizebytes="138288"></div>While some of these deals could undoubtedly boost India's defense exports, it is still early days. After all, Indian defense exports in recent years were negligible compared to heavyweights like the US and France, and New Delhi remains heavily reliant on imports.In the coming years, India could carve out a sizable place for itself in the <a href="https://warontherocks.com/2022/05/helping-india-replace-russia-in-the-value-arms-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">growing market for "value arms,"</a> which caters to countries looking for a better deal on older or slightly less capable hardware.With a bigger share of that market, India could replace Russia and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-arms-sales-may-get-boost-from-russia-war-ukraine-2023-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compete with China</a> for exports, profits from which would also help Indian firms develop indigenously made equipment to fulfill domestic requirements.While selling arms to Armenia may eventually be seen as the start of the Make in India initiative's ambitious effort to take New Delhi from the being the world's largest arms importer to a significant exporter, making that transformation is much easier said than done.Securing even bigger deals with Egypt and other countries, and sweetening the pot with technology transfers and other incentives, might get that effort farther off the ground, helping India stand out in a crowded marketplace.Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history. His articles have appeared in a variety of publications focused on the region.

India is a growing defense powerhouse, and now it's looking to cash in on it

French President Francois Hollande, who is in India on three-day visit, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan on second day of his visit. 
 
Hollande is the chief guest for Republic Day celebrations. 
 Hollande, who was greeted by President Pranab Mukherjee and <keyword id="6354814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="prime-minister-Narendra-Modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword>, said India and France could cooperate against terrorism. 
 
"Today, there are all kind of terrorist threats that are hovering around countries such as India and France and one of the main aims of my visit here is to reinforce and strengthen the cooperation against terrorism between our two countries," said Hollande. 
 
Besides, Hollande also said that the two countries would work to improve economic relations in the field of agriculture and space. 
 
Hollande arrived in India on Sunday and Modi broke the protocol to welcome him at Chandigarh. 
 
(Image: PIB)

French President gets ceremonial reception, talks about terror and economy

New Delhi, Nov 19 () JKB Infrastructure on Wednesday said it has tied up with French company SNCF for the redevelopment of railway stations in India.
It is a landmark project to redevelop, reconstruct and renovate India's major railway stations to surpass world-class standards and focuses on key stations to positively impact 100 cities and 16 million passengers per day, the infrastructure company said. 
"JKB Infrastructure, a venture of Bhagchandka Group, has joined hands with SNCF, France's state-owned national railway company for railway projects to provide world class facilities and experience to Indian railways network... It is an initiative that JKB Infrastructure, an upcoming infrastructure company, is deeply focused on and has partnered with SNCF, one of the leading global railway operators with a track record of many domain firsts including a record for the fastest train," it said in a statement. 
The company said that aligning with Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi's vision, JKB Infrastructure sees immense value in this modernisation drive for all stakeholders right from passengers, private investors and the railways.
Anirudh Jaikishan Bhagchandka, Director, JKB Infrastructure, said: "Indian railways is an institution that is connected to almost every Indian. It moves 23 million passengers and 3 million tonnes of freight on a daily basis rightly earning the tag of growth engine of the economy. We at JKB Infrastructure are aiming to create a paradigm-shifting sustainable public infrastructure that is critical in long-term economic development of India."
The statement said SNCF Hubs &amp; Connexion, the International Station Operation Division of SNCF and this project's key enabler, is known worldwide for their expertise on design, development and operations of multi-modal transit hubs. 
Fabrice Morenon, Managing Director at SNCF Hubs &amp; Connexion, said, "Our team is a mix of engineers, architects, traffic flow, financial and economic experts from across the world. We are sure their expertise ...can create seamless opportunities across India for various stakeholders." 
With their integrated station management systems, SNCF Hubs &amp; Connexion has been able to create unique successful models that enhance customer experience along with new revenue streams while lowering maintenance costs, the statement said. NAM MKJ

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