ModiWatch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for safeguarding India's 3,488 km border with China.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met PM Modi to present a Cabinet resolution urging the Central Government to restore the region's statehood.

Hyundai Motor's Executive Chair, Euisun Chung, met PM Modi, who praised the $2 billion Pune plant.

Parliamentary affairs

PAC meeting postponed: Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has postponed her appearance before Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) due to “pressing reasons.” The meeting will also review the performance of regulatory agencies, including the Ministry of Communications and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

India’s new Chief Justice

Justice Sanjiv Khanna appointed as India’s Chief Justice: Justice Sanjiv Khanna, a Supreme Court judge who recently upheld the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, will become India’s Chief Justice on November 11, succeeding Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud.

India invests in space startups and AI infrastructure

Cabinet approves $120 million venture capital fund for space startups: The Indian government approved a ₹1,000 crore ($120 million) venture capital fund under the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) program, aiming to support approximately 40 space-focused startups over five years.

In-Depth:

Nvidia's Jensen Huang sparks major tech partnerships in India: Nvidia's founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, is forging collaborations with top Indian companies, including Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), Tata Group, Infosys, and Larsen and Toubro, as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Zoho Corporation join the wave of alliances.

Reliance and Nvidia team up to build AI infrastructure in India: Nvidia and Reliance Industries partner to develop AI computing infrastructure and an innovation centre in India, leveraging Nvidia's latest Blackwell AI chips for a new data centre and expanding AI capabilities across the country.

India set to lead AI revolution: India is set to become a global leader in AI research and development, according to Yann LeCun, Chief AI Scientist at Meta. Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of Infosys, noted that the rise of multilingual AI models in the next 12 to 18 months will drive widespread AI adoption.

BRICS pushes for global reform

BRICS signals shift in global power dynamics, says Jaishankar: At the BRICS Summit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the rapid development of nations emerging from colonial rule and called for reform of the United Nations Security Council, asserting that BRICS plays a crucial role in fostering a more equitable global order for the Global South.

India-Germany defence ties deepen: India and Germany are set to finalise a logistics arrangement for armed forces cooperation, including co-development in defence technology.

Germany's investment surge in India: A recent survey by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK) reveals that 51% of German companies in India plan to increase investments over the next year.

Sitharaman, Banga discuss private capital and reforms: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met World Bank President Ajay Banga in Washington, DC, to discuss private capital for global public goods, energy security, and multilateral development bank reforms.

India urges stronger multilateral solutions: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted India's strategic role in global multilateralism and called for reforms to institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to address economic and climate challenges.

India maintains investment caution: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that foreign direct investment (FDI) restrictions with border nations are likely to remain, citing national security concerns.

India accelerates green initiatives

India sets 20% ethanol blending target for 2025 to cut fossil fuel reliance: India is advancing its ethanol blending target to 20% by 2025, aiming to reduce fossil fuel imports, save $12.7 billion in foreign exchange, and cut 54.4 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, with recent reforms increasing blending to 15% as of August 2024.

Mormugao Port joins global green shipping initiative: Mormugao Port Authority becomes India's first to offer green ship incentives through the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) platform.

Avaana Capital secures $135 million for climate fund to drive India’s net-zero goals: Avaana Capital has closed its Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund at $135 million, the largest of its kind in India, to invest in early-stage climate tech firms focusing on energy management, mobility, and sustainable agriculture.

Gas consumption is set to nearly double by 2040: India's gas consumption is projected to surge from 65 billion cubic metres (Bcm) in 2023 to 113.7 Bcm by 2040, driven by rising economic activity and an expanding city gas distribution (CGD) network.

Aerospace expansion and safety initiatives

Airbus expands India presence: Airbus inaugurated its India and South Asia Headquarters and Training Centre, featuring four A320 simulators to train 800 pilots and 200 technicians annually, while doubling procurements to over $1 billion and expanding its local workforce to 3,500 employees.

India plans 50 new airports in next five years to double air traffic: Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu announced plans to establish 50 additional airports over the next five years, aiming to double air passenger traffic from 220 million last year, as the number of airports in India has surged to 157 in the last decade.

Bomb threats disrupt Indian airlines' operations: Over 70 flights from major Indian airlines, including Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo, received bomb threats on Thursday.

Minister assures safety amid bomb threat surge: Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu addressed the recent wave of bomb threats affecting over 170 flights, assuring that the government is taking stringent measures to ensure safety and prevent future disruptions.

India eyes tech-driven road safety overhaul: Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced plans to deploy technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and satellite tolling to tackle India’s $120 billion annual economic loss from road accidents, with a focus on private sector and startup collaboration.

New railway lines

New railway lines approved in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar: The Indian government has approved two railway projects totalling ₹2,245 crore (approximately $270 million), including a 57 km line connecting Amravati—Andhra Pradesh's proposed capital, and a project to improve connectivity with Nepal and northeast India.

Uber Auto and Moto to boost India's economy

Uber Auto and Moto set to drive $4.3 billion economic impact in India: Uber's Auto and Moto services in India are projected to generate an economic impact of ₹36,000 crore ($4.3 billion) in 2024, with a 50% growth forecast over the next five years, according to a report by Public First.

October signals recovery in India’s business landscape: India's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) shows strong business growth in October, with the Services PMI at 57.9 and Manufacturing PMI rising to 60.1, reflecting increased new orders and the fastest job growth in nearly two decades.

Cyclone Dana

Cyclone Dana forces mass evacuations in India: Nearly one million people evacuated in Odisha and West Bengal, airports shut, and over 100 trains cancelled as Cyclone Dana nears India's eastern coast, bringing risks of severe flooding and landslides.

Delhi Today: Hazy.

Delhi air quality remains 'very poor' as smog persists: New Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) hit 328 on Thursday morning, with widespread smog affecting the city.

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