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<ul><li>Airports in Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar and Chandigarh have reportedly been shut. </li><li>The incident comes a day after India said it conducted a ‘non military’ ‘pre-emptive’ air strike.</li></ul>All flights between India and Pakistan were suspended and at least six airports have been shut in North India amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Airports in Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, Dehradun and Chandigarh have reportedly been closed for civilian operations following reports that two planes of the Pakistani air force had entered the Indian air space in Nowshera, Kashmir on Wednesday morning. India's Minister of External Affairs spokesperson has confirmed the <keyword id="15141" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian air force</keyword> had an aerial encounter with Pakistan and that India had shot down one Pakistani jet. India also lost one Mig 21 and one pilot was missing in action, he added. Earlier, the planes were pushed back by Indian forces, Indian news agencies <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/pakistan-violates-indian-air-space-in-nowshera/articleshow/68179860.cms">reported</a>. Meanwhile, Pakistan has <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/india-kashmir/pakistan-shoots-down-indian-jets-carries-out-airstrikes-in-kashmir-idINKCN1QG0I1">claimed</a> it has shot down two Indian fighter jets and had captured one of the pilots. The crash, which has <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/india-kashmir/pakistan-shoots-down-indian-jets-carries-out-airstrikes-in-kashmir-idINKCN1QG0I1">reportedly</a> killed two Indian pilots and one civilian, took place in Budgam in Kashmir. India has restricted air space in parts of Jammu &amp; Kashmir, closing airports in Srinagar, Leh and Jammu. The incident comes a day after India said it conducted a ‘non military’ ‘pre-emptive’ air strike at a terror camp across the Line of Control with Pakistan. The use of air force <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/iaf-air-strike-mirage-awacs-sukhoi-popeye-jaish-training-camp-balakot-5602272/">was</a> the first since India fought Pakistan in 1971. The target terror camp struck by India was <keyword id="6355098" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="LoC">loc</keyword>ated in Balakot, about 50 miles from the LOC. The air strike came in the wake of a suicide bomber attack on February 14 in Pulwama, Kashmir that killed over 40 security personnel. India has so far emphasised it's air raid on Tuesday was ‘pre-emptive’ and ‘non-military’, signaling it didn't wish to escalate the conflict. India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/balakot-strike-sushma-swaraj-india-pakistan-5602424/">told</a> diplomats from China and Russia that “India will continue to act with responsibility and restrain.” On Wednesday, in the wake of the violation of India’s air space, Pakistani foreign ministry also said it “had no intention of escalation” but was “fully prepared to do so if forced into that paradigm” Reuters reported. Both US and China have asked the two countries to act with restraint. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/us-secretary-of-state-urges-india-pak-to-de-escalate-tensions-prioritise-communication-5602472/">asked</a> India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and to prioritise communication. On Tuesday, China had also urged both countries to exercise restraint, and stressing for “cooperation” by the two countries in the interest of peace and stability in the South Asia region.

Flights disrupted as India-Pakistan tensions escalate

<ul><li>The Pulwama terror attack may set back any possibility of peace talks between India and Pakistan. </li><li>Indian government’s policy towards Pakistan has been inconsistent so far. </li><li>The sting of the Indian rhetoric against Pakistan has been more consistent on Twitter than at the level of the government. </li><li>However, neither India’s spurts of aggression nor its periodic pacifism have changed Pakistan’s patronage for terror groups. </li></ul>Forty five paramilitary soldiers lost their lives in Pulwama, Kashmir on Thursday in a terror attack, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi called ‘dastardly’, and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley promised an ‘<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/pulwama-attack-on-crpf-in-kashmir-condemned-by-pm-modi/articleshow/67997003.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">unforgettable lesson</a>’ for the perpetrators. “A befitting reply will be given to the perpetrators of the heinous attack and their patrons,” the Indian prime minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1096293506048380928" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">said</a> on Friday. The Indian government is blaming Pakistan-- Islamabad has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/jaish-e-mohammad-from-pakistan-kills-45-indian-soldiers-but-government-denies-link/articleshow/68003080.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">denied</a> any links-- for enabling the terrorists behind the deadly attacks in Kashmir. India has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-revokes-most-favoured-nation-status-to-pakistan-after-pulwama-attack/articleshow/68004958.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">revoked</a> the most favoured nation status-- which offers beneficial trade terms-- given to Pakistan in the wake of the attacks in Pulwama. However, aside from the reactionary outbursts soon after such attacks in the recent past, India’s policy, towards its troublesome neighbour on the West, has appeared incoherent and inconsistent. A similar attack in Uri, Kashmir in 2016 led to the ‘<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/world/asia/kashmir-india-pakistan.html">surgical strikes</a>’ by the Indian army across the Line of Control, in Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir, in September 2016. The move helped establish Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a strongman who would wait and watch as Pakistan used ‘terrorists’ as a state tool of aggression against India. This was<a href="https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/2016-surgical-strike-was-not-indias-first-here-are-the-previous-ones/313158"> not the first</a> such attack by the Indian army, but it was definitely the most publicised one. The propaganda was so effective that the wave of appreciation for Modi’s courage swept over the<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-41896865"> ill-conceived demonetisation</a> initiative that brought the country’s economy to a grinding halt. It even won the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) key state elections, which followed soon after. The surgical strikes even inspired a movie, Uri, two years later, in January 2018. The slick blockbuster sparked widespread jingoism in India and the BJP milked it well for political gains. The many flip-flops The man who, before becoming prime minister, asserted that the Indian government should respond in the same ‘language’ – that of violence – as the one that Pakistan uses, turned very cordial soon after he was elected. Modi got accolades for his statesmanship when he<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Sharif-other-Saarc-heads-invited-for-Modi-swearing-in/articleshow/35452933.cms"> invited</a> Pakistan’s head of state Nawaz Sharif for the swearing in ceremony in May 2014. Three months later, Modi<a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1126123"> cancelled</a> the scheduled foreign-secretary level talks citing a meeting between the Pakistani high commissioner to India and the Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat group. The next flip flop happened in December 2014, when Modi<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-modi-lands-in-lahore-on-a-surprise-visit-meets-pak-pm-nawaz-sharif/"> flew impromptu</a> to Lahore to dine at Sharif’s home when the latter’s daughter was getting wedded, and hope floated that the rapport between the two leaders may calm the tensions between the two nations fighting over shared borders for nearly seven decades now. However, within ten days of the famed meeting of the two leaders, terrorists from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad attacked a military base in Pathankot, Punjab killing 7 Indian soldiers and one civilian. The conversations between the two governments stopped and Modi’s poise turned icy. What followed was a rise in cross-border firings as well as a marked-up call to global allies to ‘<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/bb7592de-82e3-11e6-8897-2359a58ac7a5">isolate</a>’ Pakistan in international forums. That was 2016 and 2017. In November 2018, the two countries agreed to build a cross-border<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-pak-to-build-corridor-for-sikh-pilgrims-to-visit-iconic-gurdwara/story-HV7Zgu8jh1VSDMNNqwbmCL.html"> corridor</a> that would allow Sikhs to visit a holy shrine, which is devoted to the religion’s founder Guru Nanak, situated in Pakistan. Less than a month before the hand shakes on the Kartapur corridor, representatives from the two countries had a heated exchange at the<a href="https://thediplomat.com/2018/09/an-india-pakistan-showdown-at-the-united-nations-73rd-general-assembly/"> United Nations</a> General Assembly. Cut to the new year, and Modi was a lot more considerate in his answer to the question on his stance towards Pakistan. “It will be a huge mistake to believe that Pakistan will mend its ways after a war. It will take a lot of time for Pakistan to mend its ways,” the Indian prime minister said in an<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pakistan-would-take-a-lot-of-time-to-mend-its-ways-narendra-modi/article25881945.ece"> interview</a> on January 1. Weeks after the stately view on Pakistan, Modi today, after the latest attack, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pulwama-terror-attack-live-updates-several-crpf-personnel-martyred-in-jammu-and-kashmirs-pulwama-district/liveblog/67994460.cms">said</a> that the Indian security forces have been ‘given full freedom’. India is a lot more polarised today on many issues, none more common than nationalism. The idea of patriotism and the plight of Indian soldiers facing the enemy at the western border have been contentious issues among the country’s citizens—both on social media and in personal interactions—and the credit goes to the BJP for making the debate ubiquitous. However, in hindsight, the sting of the Indian rhetoric against Pakistan has been more consistent on Twitter than at the level of the government. Neither India’s aggression nor its pacifist attitude has had any impact on Pakistan’s approach. Ceasefire violations have increased six fold between 2015 and 2018, according to a government<a href="https://scroll.in/article/888719/data-check-already-more-ceasefire-violations-along-line-of-control-this-year-than-all-of-2017"> data</a> released in July 2018. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-revokes-most-favoured-nation-status-to-pakistan-after-pulwama-attack/articleshow/68004958.cms">India revokes Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan after Pulwama attack</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/terror-attack-in-kashmir-condemned-by-several-countries/articleshow/68003200.cms">US, Russia, France among countries to condemn terror attack in Kashmir</a>

Indian government is raging at Pakistan again—here's a look at its policy so far

Ahead of the <keyword id="6360189" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="union-budget" source="Orion">Union Budget</keyword>, Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="Orion">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> said on Sunday that she was aware of the pressures of the middle class but also recalled that the present government has not imposed any fresh taxes on them. <keyword id="679937" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="sitharaman" source="Orion">Sitharaman</keyword> will present Union Budget for 2023-24 in the Lok Sabha on February 1 amid expectations that the government will raise the income tax limit and provide relief to the middle class taxpayers, besides others. "I too belong to the middle class so I can understand the pressures of the middle class. I identify myself with the middle class so I know," she said while speaking at a function organised by the Panchjanya magazine, an RSS- associated weekly. In the same breath, the minister reminded the audience that the present Modi government has not imposed any fresh taxes on the middle class. Also, she added, income of up to Rs 5 lakh is exempt from the income tax. She said the government has taken various measures like developing the metro rail network in 27 cities and building 100 smart cities to promote ease of living. The minister assured them that the government can do more for the middle class as its population is growing and it has become sizeable now. "I quite recognise their problems. The government has done a lot for them and continue doing the same," she said without making any commitment. Sitharaman said the government has been raising the outlay on capital expenditure in each Budget since 2020. For current financial year, she said, it has been increased by 35 per cent to Rs 7.5 lakh crore as it has a multiplier effect on the economy. On the banking sector, she said, the government's 4R strategy --Recognition, <keyword id="1518048" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="recapitalization" source="Orion">Recapitalization</keyword>, Resolution and Reform--has helped in revival of public sector banks (PSBs). As a result of this, non-performing assets (NPAs) have declined and health of PSBs has improved greatly, she said. The government implemented an unprecedented recapitalization programme for PSBs amounting to Rs 2.11 lakh crore to support capital adequacy and prevent their default. PSBs turned the corner during 2020-21 with a combined net profit of Rs 31,820 crore supported by massive recovery, reduction in NPAs and windfall gains on their bond portfolio. Subsequently, the combined profit more than doubled to Rs 66,539 crore in FY22 despite COVID-19 pressure. They had booked collective losses to the tune of Rs 2,07,329 crore for five straight years from 2015-16 to 2019-20. The <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> last month said, banks' gross NPA ratio has fallen to a seven-year low of 5 per cent and the banking system remains sound and well-capitalised. Speaking about farmers, Sitharaman said the government is committed to doubling their income and has taken various steps in that direction. On trade with Pakistan, she said the neighbouring country never offered Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India. Trade relations with Pakistan have suffered since the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, she said. With regard to freebies, the minister said, promises have to be made keeping in mind the financial health of the state and there has to be full transparency about it. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/more-unicorns-focused-on-profitability-now-than-just-burning-cash-as-funding-winter-sets-in/articleshow/97030045.cms">More unicorns focused on profitability now than just burning cash as funding winter sets in</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/over-5-4-lakh-housing-units-to-be-completed-across-top-7-cities-in-2023-anarock-report/articleshow/97029912.cms">Over 5.4 lakh housing units to be completed across top 7 cities in 2023: Anarock report</a>

I belong to middle class, understand their pressures: Sitharaman before Budget

Embattled liquor baron <keyword id="14678" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vijay-Mallya">Vijay Mallya</keyword>, on Tuesday asked Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> to consider his repeated "offer to repay 100 per cent" of the amount borrowed by now defunct <keyword id="6373962" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="kingfisher-airlines">Kingfisher Airlines</keyword>, in this time of coronavirus pandemic. Mallya, who is wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crore, also said all his companies have effectively ceased operations and manufacturing following the lockdown in India. "I have made repeated offers to pay 100 per cent of the amount borrowed by KFA to the Banks. Neither are Banks willing to take money and neither is the ED willing to release their attachments which they did at the behest of the Banks. I wish the FM would listen in this time of crisis," Mallya said in a series of tweets. He further said, "Indian <keyword id="26362" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Government">Government</keyword> has done what was unthinkable in locking down the entire country. We respect that. All my companies have effectively ceased operations. All manufacturing is closed as well." Mallya sought government help and said, "we are not sending employees home and paying the idle cost. Government has to help." Asking people to stay safe and maintain social distancing "which can effectively be achieved by staying home and enjoying home time with family and pets, he said, "I am doing the same. We all have a sense of bravado but it's not worth challenging an unknown enemy which isn't Pulwama or Kargil." Mallya has challenged in the UK <keyword id="6355392" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="High-Court">High Court</keyword> his extradition from the country. RKL DRR

Vijay Mallya appeals to Finance Minister to reconsider his repayment offer during these 'tough' times

(Eds: With more details) New Delhi, Apr 18 () Of the 14,378 coronavirus infections reported in the country till Saturday morning, 4,291 cases in 23 states and Union Territories are linked to the Markaz event held in Delhi's Nizamuddin area in March, the Union health ministry said.By Saturday evening, the death toll due to coronavirus infection rose to 488, while the number of cases climbed to 14,792, according to data provided by the Centre.However, a tally of figures reported by various states as on Saturday evening showed 14,848 infections and at least 503 deaths. There has been a lag in the Union Health Ministry figures, compared to the number of deaths announced by different states, which officials attribute to procedural delays in assigning the cases to individual states.At a daily media briefing about the COVID-19 situation in the country, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said most of the Markaz event-related cases have been found in states with high burden of the disease, such as Tamil Nadu (84 per cent), Telengana (79 per cent), Delhi (63 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (59 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (61 per cent)."A total of 4,291 COVID-19 cases or 29.8 per cent of the 14,378 coronavirus infections reported till Saturday morning are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation," he said.The health ministry official also said in some states which have reported fewer COVID-19 infections, also had cases with links to the Markaz event.The only coronavirus case reported in Arunachal Pradesh till now is related to the Markaz event. Similarly, 32 of the 35 cases reported in Assam and 10 out of 12 cases from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are linked to the same congregation, he said."The reason I drew your attention to this event is to highlight that even if one person does not follow the guidelines of social distancing and lockdown, the entire country has to suffer the consequences," Agarwal said.The mortality rate in COVID-19 cases in India has been around 3.3 per cent, he said, adding 14.4 per cent of the deaths are between 0-45 years, 10.3 per cent between 45- 60 years, 33.1 per cent between 60-75 years and 42.2 per cent fatalities among people aged 75 and above."We see that 75.3 per cent deaths have been among those aged 60 or above and in 83 per cent cases there were co-morbidities," Agarwal said and reiterated the elderly and those with co-morbid conditions are at high risk.About containment strategies implemented along with the lockdown, Agarwal said field-level actions are fetching positive results in several places."A positive trend has been noted in 47 districts of 23 states and UTs. Kodaggu in Karnataka is a new district added to this list along with Mahe in Puducherry that has not reported any fresh cases during the last 28 days," the official said.Twenty-two new districts in 12 states have not reported any fresh case in the last 14 days. These districts include Lakhisarai, Bhagalpur and Gopalganj in Bihar, Udaipur and Dholpur in Rajasthan, Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, Rohtak in Haryana and Vishakhaptnam in Andhra Pradesh, Agarwal said.He, however, stated that Patna in Bihar, Nadia in West Bengal and Panipat in Haryana where there were no COVID-19 positive cases in the first two weeks, have now reported incidents of the infection. "We have to be on continuous vigil to fight this battle," the official said.The joint secretary also said protocol for using rapid antibody test kits have been shared with the states by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)."Rapid antibody test kits are to be used in hotspots. It can also be used for surveillance and for epidemiological purposes in such areas where COVID-19 cases have not emerged so far."RT-PCR test is the gold standard for frontline test and antibody test cannot replace this. Utility of rapid antibody test is primarily for assessing prevalence of infection in a particular area," he said.According to the ICMR protocol, the official said, only those showing symptoms of influenza-like illness such as fever, cough and cold for a week or more in hotspot areas should be made to undergo rapid antibody test.Those found positive must be quarantined for at least for seven days and contact tracing should be initiated. Those who turn out negative should be in home quarantine for a week."RT-PCR test should be done to confirm COVID-19 if clinical suspicion is high," Agarwal said.Asked if ICMR was doing a randomised control trial to assess the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in COVID-19 treatment, Head of Epidemiology and Communicable diseases at ICMR Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar said it is an observational study, not trial.Around 480 patients will be enrolled and it will go for eight weeks, he said.Dr Gangakhedkar said the ICMR has launched a study on the side-effects of HCQ using data from some health care workers who used the drug."The average age of the workers was 35 and the most visible side effects abdominal pain (10 per cent), nausea (6 per cent) and hypoglycemia (1.3 per cent)."Twenty-two per cent of these healthcare workers who took HCQ had diabetes or blood pressure, vascular or respiratory illnesses. They started taking the drug out of the fear of contracting the disease," he said.Dr Gangakhedkar said AIIMS is conducting studies to assess the prevention and healing impact of HCQ on COVID-19."In some places HCQ consumption is not that high. So it impacts the study design and collection of data. We are facing difficulty in finding a homogenous population," he said. PLB AG NSDNSD

Of 14,378 COVID-19 infections, 4,291 cases linked to Markaz event in Delhi: Health minister

In what is considered as a massive victory for India’s diplomacy, the UN has designated <keyword id="6459729" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="masood-azhar">Masood Azhar</keyword> as a global terrorist on Wednesday, <a name="_GoBack"></a>May 1, 2019. The present move by the UN follows after China was made to lift its hold on the proposal that would blacklist Masood Azhar, the Jaish-e-Mohammed chief based in Pakistan. India has succeeded in its mission after its decade long efforts with the UN fighting for the said case. Earlier China had thrice opposed the UN’s proposal to designate Azhar as an international terrorist on the grounds of lack of enough evidence against him. Syed Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations wrote in his tweet, “Big, small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support.” Here we try to understand what ‘<keyword id="3826364" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="UN-sanctions-list">UN sanctions List</keyword>’ is and what it implies when a person is designated as a global terrorist. As per what is stated by the United Nations, when a person is designated as a global terrorist under the UN 1267 ISIL and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, a travel ban is imposed on the subject. The other obvious implications are assets freeze and an embargo on arms. Many other things also come with the designation which are worth exploring. The UN Security Council is responsible for maintaining International Peace and Security. With its 15 members enjoying one vote each, the Charter of the United Nations makes it obligatory for all the Member States to abide by the Council’s decisions. Sanctions List provides a powerful tool to the UN to enforce its decision on the participating states. An assets freeze as per the <keyword id="45167" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="UNSC">UNSC</keyword> (United Nations Sanctions Committee) will require that all the states freeze the funds and financial assets of the designated individual with immediate effect. The clause of travel ban will require all the states to prevent the subject(s) to enter or transit through their territories. The clause of arms embargo will need the participating states to avert both the direct and indirect supply of arms to concerned subjects. The member countries are also prohibited from selling, supplying, transporting the materials, spare parts, technical advice, any kinds of assistance or training related articles and military activities to the designated individuals. Via Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) with regard to ISIL (Da'esh) Al-Qaida and all the individuals connected with them and the groups, undertakings and entities connected with Jaish-e-Mohammed were banned by the UN in 2001. However, the move to designate Masood Azhar as a global terrorist was repeatedly unsuccessful even after the Mumbai terror attack since China was using its veto power to block the said proposal. Azhar has been the mastermind behind a long list of terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, the gravest one being the Pulwama terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 40 army personnel. The present victory to India’s efforts can be considered as a decisive and momentous move against terrorism by the sub-continent.

What is UN Sanctions List And what happens when a person is designated a Global Terrorist?

<ul><li>The world's biggest democracy will vote for the next government from April 11 to May 19.</li><li>The voting will be held in seven phases through 29 states and seven union territories.</li><li>In 2019, Nearly 900 million people are expected to vote to send 543 representatives Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. Elections to four state assemblies will be held simultaneously with the Parliament elections </li></ul>Indians will go to vote in 2019 for the seventeenth time since the first election in 1951-52. The <keyword id="65281" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Election-Commission-of-India">Election Commission of India</keyword> announced on March 10 (Sunday) that the polling will be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The results will be counted on May 23. In a first for the country, voting for the four state legislatures, as well as bypolls, will be held alongside with the election for the Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pushing for simultaneous elections for both state and central legislatures, but the proposal has faced severe political opposition. Nearly 900 million voters are expected to turn out this year, compared to 814.5 million in 2014. The number of polling stations will be increased from 900,000 in 2014 to 1 million this year. 16 million new voters will be between the age of 18 and 19, compared to 23.1 million in 2014. 1.7 million voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines will be in use after a <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/story/the-many-claims-of-evm-tampering-in-india-1435638-2019-01-21" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">series</a> of allegations of foul play in many state polls in the run up to the general elections in 2019. VVPAT is a second line of independent verification via a printer machine, which is attached to electronic voting machines. When a voter presses the button against the party symbol of their choice on the electronic voting machine (EVM), a paper slip is printed through VVPAT. The slip would contain the poll symbol and name of the candidate and allows voters to verify if their vote has gone to the intended candidate. After the voter views the slip, that slip will be dropped inside a sealed box linked to the EVM. "The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect from today itself in the entire country. Any violation will be dealt with in the strictest manner," <keyword id="50926" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-election-commissioner">Chief Election Commissioner</keyword> <keyword id="251670" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sunil-Arora">Sunil Arora</keyword> said. <table style="width: 268pt;"> </colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup> <tbody><tr> <td class="xl63" style="height:15.0pt;width:74pt">Date of polling</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 75pt;">Constituencies</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 119pt;">States/Union Territories</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">11-Apr</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">91</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">20</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">18-Apr</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">97</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">13</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">23-Apr</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">115</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">14</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">29-Apr</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">71</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">9</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">6-May</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">51</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">7</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">12-May</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">59</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">7</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">19-May</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">59</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">8</td> </tr></tbody></table> The big question in front of the election watchdog is the campaigning by political parties on social media, which has been difficult to regulate especially after the deadlines set by the Commission. However, the election commissioner did not have a clear answer on how it plans to ensure that vote seeking does not continue on social media in the last 48 hours before the polling begins. Physical campaigning is allowed during this period. Strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir, the northern state that shares the border with Pakistan, will witness polling in five phases amidst heightened security. The armies of the two countries have been trading fire, a lot more than usual in the last few weeks ever since the terror attack in Pulwama, Kashmir that killed over 40 Indian security personnel in February. <table style="width: 341pt;"> </colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup> <tbody><tr> <td class="xl65" style="height:15.0pt;width:145pt">States</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 196pt;">Polling Dates</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Andaman and Nicobar Islands</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Andhra Pradesh</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Arunachal</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Assam</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Bihar</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29 &amp; May 6, 12, 19</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Chandigarh</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">May 12</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Chhatisgarh</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Dadra and Nagar Haveli</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Daman and Diu</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Delhi</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">May 12</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Goa </td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Gujarat</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Haryana</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">May 12</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Himachal Pradesh</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">May 19</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Jammu Kashmir</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29, &amp; May 6</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Jharkhand</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 29 &amp; May 6, 12, 19</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Karnataka</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 18, 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Kerala</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Lakshadweep</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Madhya Pradesh</td> <td class="xl68" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, &amp; May 6, 12, 19</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Maharashtra</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29,</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Manipur</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18,</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Meghalaya</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Mizoram</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Nagaland</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Odisha</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29,</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Puducherry</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 18 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Punjab</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">May 19</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Rajasthan</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 29 &amp; May 6</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Sikkim</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Tamil Nadu</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 18 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Telengana</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Tripura</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Uttar Pradesh</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29 &amp; May 6, 12</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Uttarakhand</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">West Bengal</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29 &amp; May 6, 12, 19</td> </tr></tbody></table> See also : <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/facebooks-ad-archive-report-50-facebook-ads-by-bjp/articleshow/68304281.cms">BJP spends too much on political advertising on Facebook as Congress spends too little — yet again</a>

Voting in India's 2019 elections will run from April 11  to May 19 and the results will be counted on May 23

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30878">Public Domain</a>GWALIOR AIR FORCE STATION, India -- An Indian air force Mirage 2000 taxis into position following a Cope India 2004 sortie</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>India on Tuesday launched airstrikes across its border with Pakistan in a military escalation following a terror attack in Kashmir that left 40 Indian troops dead.</li><li>Pakistan immediately convened a meeting of its nuclear commanders and issued a thinly veiled nuclear threat to India. </li><li>The airstrike from India involved nuclear-capable aircraft and, according to India, killed up to 300 militants, but Pakistan says the Indian jets were chased off and killed no one. </li><li>With China closely backing Pakistan and US support for India, the two rivals have long been seen as a potential flash point for a global nuclear conflict. </li><li>Both sides appear out for blood now as gun fighting cracks off on the border and Indians around the country celebrate what they see as vengeance for the terror attack. </li></ul>India on Tuesday launched airstrikes across its border with Pakistan in a military escalation following decades of bitter rivalry and a terror attack in Kashmir that left 40 Indian troops dead, and Pakistan immediately convened a meeting of its nuclear commanders. Gun fighting on the ground followed along India and Pakistan's de facto border after what Vipin Narang, an MIT professor and an expert on the two country's conventional and nuclear forces, called "India's most significant airstrike against Pak in half a century."The strikes happened after India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi unleashed the military to respond however it saw fit after the terror attack, which India blames on Islamist militants based in Pakistan.India and Pakistan have fought three wars over the disputed territory, and analysts are closely watching the crisis for clues about whether it could escalate from airstrikes to a heightened nuclear posture.Pakistan denies any involvement in the terror attack, but swiftly "took control" of the Jaish-e-Mohammed militants camp in question.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pakistan-readies-military-hospitals-for-war-nuclear-rival-india-kashmir-pulwama-2019-2" data-analytics-position="2">Pakistan readies military, hospitals for war with its nuclear rival India after Pulwama terror attack</a> <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir#/media/File:Kashmir_region_2004.jpg">CIA via Wikimedia Commons</a>Political map of the Kashmir region districts, showing the Pir Panjal range and the Kashmir valley or Vale of Kashmir.</div></div></div>India says its airstrikes killed as many as 300 Muslim separatist militants, but it is unclear whether the attack had any effect. Pakistan claims its air force scrambled fighter jets and chased India off, forcing the jets to hastily drop their bombs in an unpopulated area; Pakistan's prime minister called India's claims "fictitious."India flew its Mirage 2000 jets for the mission, which it uses as part of its nuclear deterrent. The jets dropped more than 2,000 pounds of laser-guided bombs, according to <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/surgical-strikes-2-0-1000-kg-laser-guided-bombs-mirage-2000s-and-other-details-we-know-so-far-2048725.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">News18.com</a>. As a branch of India's nuclear forces, the Mirage 2000 fleet has some of the most ready aircraft and pilots, <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mirage-2000-jets-iaf-airstrike-all-you-need-to-know-1465322-2019-02-26" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Today notes</a>. The strike took place about 30 miles deep into Pakistan's territory in a town called Balakot, Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/vijay-gokhale-press-conference-on-surgical-strikes-2-0-live-updates-2048845.html?ref=hp_top_pos_8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a press conference</a>. "The existence of such training facilities, capable of training hundreds of jihadis, could not have functioned without the knowledge of the Pakistani authorities," Gokhale said. The US has similarly accused Pakistan of harboring terrorists, and backed India's right to self-defense following the terror attack. Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indias-modi-unleashes-military-on-pakistan-after-pulwama-terrorism-2019-2" data-analytics-position="4">India unleashes its military on Pakistan after a terror attack stoked the feud between the nuclear rivals</a>Maj. Gen. Asif Hafþór, the spokesperson for Pakistan's military, said that Pakistan successfully scrambled jets and scared off the incoming Indian Mirage 2000s, and also tweeted pictures of craters and parts of what could be Indian bombs."Payload of hastily escaping Indian aircrafts fell in open," <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/1100231826348617728" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ghafoor said of the images</a>. It's unclear if India hit their targets, actually killed anyone, or simply dropped fuel tanks upon leaving Pakistan.India's airstrikes hit relatively close to Pakistan's prominent military academies and capital of Islamabad, potentially raising concern among the military that it's at threat from further Indian strikes. <h2>Pakistan's nuclear threat<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Reuters stringerPakistan's Hatf VII (Babur) missile takes off during a test from an undisclosed location in December 2007.</div></div></div></h2>At a press conference in response to the airstrikes, Ghafoor issued a veiled nuclear threat to India. "We will surprise you. Wait for that surprise. I said that our response will be different. The response will come differently," Ghafoor said at a press conference.Ghafoor continued that Pakistan had called a meeting of its National Command Authority, which controls the country's nuclear arsenal. "You all know what that means," Ghafoor said of the nuclear commanders' meeting in a press conference he posted to Twitter. Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/9-nuclear-nations-arsenals-ranked-us-vs-russia-china-wins-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We ranked the world's nuclear arsenals - here's why China's came out on top</a>But India has nuclear weapons and means to deliver them too. Additionally, both countries maintain large conventional militaries that have become increasingly hostile in their rhetoric towards each other. <h2>Best case scenario? Conventional skirmishes</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">APAn Indian officer from the Indian Central Reserve Police Force shouts slogans during preparations for the upcoming Republic Day parade, near the Presidential Palace in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. Indian marks Republic Day on Jan. 26.</div></div></div>India and Pakistan have fought three wars over the border and have nuclearized to counter each other's forces. With China closely backing Pakistan and US support for India, the two rivals have long been seen as a potential flash point for a global nuclear conflict. <a href="https://twitter.com/idreesali114/status/1100421761609416705" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters' Idrees Ali reported</a> after the strikes that gunfights had broken out along Pakistan and India's border. The two countries have fought three wars over the disputed region of Kashmir, which both countries claim but administer only in part. Both India and Pakistan now appear out for blood following the fighting. Reuters reported that all around India people were celebrating, and Modi praised the military as "heroes."Meanwhile, Paksitan's denial that the airstrikes hit anything may give them some deniability and wiggle room to not respond with escalation, but hardliners within Pakistan will likely call for action. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twin-brothers-chicago-helped-take-down-el-chapo-margarito-pedro-flores-wives-cocaine-traffickers2017-6">The wives of high-level cocaine traffickers reveal how their husbands took down 'El Chapo'</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

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