ModiWatch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Guyana for a state visit on Wednesday. He was given a ceremonial welcome by Guyana's President Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, and more than a dozen Cabinet Ministers, and the Prime Ministers of Barbados and Grenada.

PM Modi and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali held talks in Georgetown, signing five agreements covering defence, agriculture, medical product regulation, and UPI facilities.

Parliamentary affairs

Winter session to address supplementary grants and maritime, banking reforms: Parliament's Winter Session will deliberate on 15 bills, including maritime, banking, and disaster management reforms, alongside supplementary demands for grants (SDG).

Parliamentary Affairs Minister to meet political leaders ahead of winter session: Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will hold an All-Party Meeting on 24 November, ahead of the Winter Session, which starts the following day and may run until 20 December. There will be no sitting on 26 November for Constitution Day.

Parliamentary committee to discuss mechanism for curbing fake news with news bodies: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology will meet with the News Broadcasters and Digital Association and Editors Guild of India on November 21 to consider measures against fake news, following the Bombay High Court’s rejection of the government's proposed Fact Check Unit.

India to overhaul ship ownership and registration norms, easing access for foreign charterers: India plans to revamp its Merchant Shipping Act, allowing greater flexibility in vessel ownership, aiming to grow shipbuilding sector and global maritime presence. The proposed bill, set for approval in the Winter Session, also introduces stronger protections for seafarers and measures to prevent marine pollution.

Polling wraps up in Jharkhand, Maharashtra

67.59% voter turnout in Jharkhand, 58.22% in Maharashtra as elections conclude: Jharkhand recorded 67.59% voter turnout while Maharashtra saw 58.22% participation. Simultaneous polling in both states and 15 states' by-polls ended on Wednesday, with counting scheduled for 23 November.

BJP-led alliances edge ahead in Maharashtra, Jharkhand polls: Exit polls predict a strong showing for the BJP-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Jharkhand, with the Congress-Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) alliance leading in some polls in Jharkhand.

India welcomes UK’s FTA resumption

India welcomes UK’s resumption of free trade talks in 2025: India has welcomed the UK’s decision to resume Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations in early 2025, following discussions between Prime Ministers Modi and Starmer at the G-20 summit.

India seeks balanced trade with ASEAN in FTA review: India aims to address market access issues and tighten rules of origin in the ongoing review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), aiming for more equitable trade with ASEAN countries and blocking third-country imports.

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FDI in India rises 25.7% in H1FY25 to $42.1 billion: Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India grew 25.7% year-on-year to $42.1 billion during April–September 2024, while net FDI moderated to $3.6 billion due to higher repatriation and outward FDI, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Putin to visit India

Putin to visit India for first time since 2022 Ukraine invasion: Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India for the first time since the 2022 Ukraine invasion, following two visits by PM Modi to Russia.

India strengthens defence and renewable energy ties

Australia and India partner on renewable energy, defence projects: Australia and India have agreed to increase investment in renewable energy, including solar manufacturing and battery processing, while strengthening defence and maritime security ties.

Defence Ministers of India and China meet for first time post disengagement agreements: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun, discussing cooperation over conflict and a roadmap for rebuilding trust following the 2020 border clashes. Both sides agreed to focus on de-escalation and preventing future border incidents.

Rajnath Singh meets ASEAN counterparts: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Malaysian and Lao PDR counterparts to discuss strengthening regional defence ties, including a forthcoming Malaysia-India Defence Committee Meeting in early 2025 and collaboration on counter-terrorism efforts.

General Dwivedi visits Nepal to strengthen military ties: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, is on a four-day visit to Nepal, where he will hold talks with Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Defence Minister Manbir Rai, along with military leaders, to strengthen defence cooperation.

FY25 growth forecast of 6.5-7% holds

Economic Affairs Secretary sees limited downside to 6.5-7% growth forecast for FY25: Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth stated that despite a potential undershooting of the ₹11.11 trillion ($134 billion) capital expenditure target, overall economic growth for the fiscal year remains on track with minimal downside risk to the 6.5-7% projection.

50% of Delhi staff to work remotely

Delhi Government orders 50% of staff to work from home amid rising pollution: Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party-led Government has mandated remote work for 50% of Government employees as pollution levels rise.

SECI signs MoU with H2Global Stiftung for green hydrogen collaboration: Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI), under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has signed an MoU with H2Global Stiftung to foster knowledge exchange and cooperation on green hydrogen initiatives, aiming to support global green hydrogen growth.

India targets AMR

India launches antibiotic tackling drug-resistant infections: Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh launched "Nafithromycin" (trade name Miqnaf), developed with $60 million investment by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and Wockhardt, to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Karnataka unveils space policy with $3 billion investment target: Karnataka released the draft Space Technology Policy (2024-2029) at the Bengaluru Tech Summit, aiming for a 50% national market share, $3 billion investment, and infrastructure like space manufacturing clusters and testing centres.

Views from the Op-Eds: Delhi’s air quality crisis

Gufran Beig (The Indian Express) notes the need for scientifically integrated solutions, noting how meteorological conditions and external pollution sources have compounded the crisis. He critiques India's AQI methodology, pointing out less stringent thresholds compared to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and calls for leveraging indigenous satellite technology for accurate monitoring. Beig emphasises transparency and health-centric policies, urging a focus on multidisciplinary strategies to address both local emissions and external contributors like fossil fuels.

Editorial (The Hindu) critiques the systemic inability to curb hazardous pollution levels despite significant investments in monitoring technologies and empowered regulatory bodies like the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). It points to political apathy, highlighting the absence of leadership during such a crisis. The editorial also questions short-term solutions like cloud seeding, urging sustained efforts to tackle year-round issues such as road dust.

Aditya Sinha (CNN-News18) identifies stubble burning as a symptom of deeper structural challenges. He attributes the persistence of this practice to economic constraints faced by farmers, and policies like the Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act. The act mandates delayed sowing of paddy to conserve groundwater, but it compresses the crop cycle, leaving farmers with less time to clear fields, often resulting in stubble burning. Sinha calls for systemic changes, including crop diversification, subsidised access to eco-friendly machinery, and the creation of biomass markets.

Delhi Today: Hazy.

Stage-IV restrictions lifted as AQI improves in Delhi: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted Stage-IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to 424, moving from the 'Severe+' to 'Severe' category on Wednesday morning.