ModiWatch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Spanish Prime Minister’s visit to India has brought a new energy and enthusiasm in relations between the two countries.

PM Modi and the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex, which will manufacture C-295 aircraft at the TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) facility.

Parliamentary affairs

Parliament likely to resume on November 25: According to sources, the Winter Session may start on November 25 as the government plans to hold a special joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on November 26 to mark the seventy-fifth year of the constitution.

Announcements by the Centre

Centre announces timeline for census exercise: The awaited census data and the work to update the National Population Register (NPR) is likely to begin in early 2025, and the data will be released by 2026.

Finance Ministry acknowledges economic slowdown in urban India: The Finance Ministry acknowledged rising concerns over deteriorating consumer sentiment and declining demand in urban India, as well as a slowing of industrial growth in recent months.

Centre likely to revise horticulture mission: The Government has reportedly decided to include four new components (Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Vertical Farming, and Precision Agriculture) under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

Swiss corporations increase investments in India: Swiss corporations such as engineering firm ABB and logistics group Kuehne+Nagel will increase their investments in India, fuelled by rapid expansion and a $100 billion trade and economic partnership agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Import and Export

No imports from Pakistan: There were no imports from Pakistan by India in the first five months of the current financial year, exports were recorded at $235 million, particularly sugar and pharmaceuticals.

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India highly dependent on critical mineral imports: According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) report, India is highly dependent on critical mineral imports to accelerate energy transition.

All about India Inc

JSW Energy outbids Adani Power: Outbidding Adani Power, JSW Energy emerged as the top bidder for KSK Mahanadi Power, offering ₹15,985 crore ($1.9 billion) to financial creditors.

Hindustan Zinc to invest $2 billion: Hindustan Zinc’s CEO, Arun Misra said the Vedanta Group subsidiary is planning to invest up to $2 billion to double its capacity in the next few years.

Hyderabad firm invests in US-based semiconductor company: Hyderabad-based Cyient as part of a strategy to sharpen focus on the semiconductor business has acquired a 27.3% stake in fabless custom ASIC company Azimuth AI, known for expertise in intelligent energy and power solutions, for $7.25 million.

Lodha Group pledges $2.4 billion to social causes: Owner of Lodha Group, an Indian multinational real estate company, Abhishek Lodha and his family have pledged to transfer a stake worth around ₹20,000 crore ($2.4 billion) in their listed entity Macrotech Developers to the company’s philanthropic initiative Lodha Philanthropy Foundation (LPF).

Building relations in all directions

US, France and Armenia top destinations for Indian defence exports: India’s policy of increasing exports of indigenous defence equipment thriving as the US, France and Armenia emerge as top customers for these exports.

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Visa-free travel between India and Russia: The first visa-free tourist groups from India are expected to travel to Moscow by the spring of 2025.

Commerce Minister in Saudi Arabia: The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, will visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to further deepen the India-Saudi Arabia strategic partnership and explore new avenues of collaboration.

IT minister promotes Andhra Pradesh in the US: The Minister of IT and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, on his visit to the US invited companies like Tesla and Perot Group to invest in Andhra Pradesh. He added the Indian state was strategically positioned for the establishment of EV and battery manufacturing units.

Russia welcomes India-China agreement: Russian envoy to India Denis Alipov Monday defined the India-China pact on the border issue as a positive development in bilateral ties.

India-Spain condemn attack on UN peaceeking force

India-Spain condemns attack on UN forces: India and Spain emphasised that peacekeepers' safety and security are "of paramount importance and must be ensured by all," while denouncing the attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Opposition making moves

Akhilesh Yadav urges opposition to unite: The Samajwadi Party president, Akhilesh Yadav, called for forging a collective strategy and making a united effort to oust the BJP-alliance from power in Maharashtra in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Opposition walks out of Waqf committee again: Opposition members of the joint committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill walked out of the panel meeting once again alleging that proceedings are not being conducted ethically.

Energy demand to increase in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu to see additional 7,000 MW demand: As per the National Electricity Plan-Transmission, a policy to strengthen India's power grid for energy delivery, Tamil Nadu is likely to see an additional electricity demand of 7,000 MW on account of green hydrogen/green ammonia production.

Stubble burning not the reason for pollution in New Delhi

Stubble burning down by 50%: Stubble burning in Punjab, often blamed for the rise in Delhi’s air pollution, has decreased by 50% since last year in the post-harvest period, yet air quality in the capital continues to deteriorate.

Views from the Op-Eds: India-China border patrolling agreement.

P Chidambaram (Indian Express) writes it's “too early to tell” on the India-China border patrolling agreement. He highlighted a similar agreement was reached in 2017 but China did not adhere to it. He also pointed out that it is sad for democracy that this issue was not once discussed in the parliament.

Zorawar Daulet Singh (India Today) writes the agreement between India and China can be seen as a foundation for a multipolar world. He adds India and China “can now provide greater expression to their common interests in reforming the global financial architecture, trade architecture and development finance.”

General Manoj Mukund Naravane (The Print) added to Chidambaram’s narrative stating that the border patrolling agreement is only the first step in achieving collaboration. He also highlighted that China can back out of the agreement, so there is a need for extra caution from India.

Delhi Today: Plenty of sunshine.

Air quality remains ‘Very Poor’: A layer of smog engulfed certain regions of New Delhi, with air quality remaining in the 'Very Poor' category. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 328.

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