THE HEADLINES:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin to arrive in New Delhi on a two day visit to India for India-Russia Annual Summit.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart to co-chair India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation in New Delhi this evening.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, protecting wildlife and living in harmony with nature are integral to India’s civilisational ethos; recalls success of Project Cheetah on International Cheetah Day today.
- Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi launches 100-Day Intensive Awareness Campaign for a Child Marriage Free Bharat.
- Fitch Ratings revises India’s GDP growth forecast for current financial year to 7.4 percent, citing robust private consumption and positive impact of recent tax reforms.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin will arrive in New Delhi today on a state visit to India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. During the two-day visit, President Putin will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow. Both leaders will exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. A number of agreements are expected to be signed, including in areas related to trade, economy, healthcare, academics, culture and media. President Droupadi Murmu will also receive the Russian President and host a banquet in his honour. More in this report:
”Russia has been a longstanding and time-tested partner for India. Development of India-Russia relations has been a key pillar of India’s foreign policy. Since the signing of the “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000, India-Russia ties have acquired a qualitatively new character with enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas. During the visit of the Russian President to India in December 2010, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to the level of “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”
Intensifying the trade and economic relations has been identified as a priority area with a target of increasing bilateral trade to 100 billion dollars by 2030. Bilateral trade between India and Russia reached a record high of 68.7 billion dollars in 2024-25. Suparna Saikia, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov will co-chair the 22nd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation ministerial meeting in New Delhi today. Defence Ministry in a statement said the two leaders will review the entire range of multi-faceted relations between the two countries in the field of defence during the meeting. They will also exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest.
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Rajya Sabha MP and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla today said that there is a lot of expectations from the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India. Talking to reporters outside Parliament, Mr Shringla said that his visit will open new possibilities of collaboration between India and Russia in various areas including Agri products, marine and sea foods. Mr Shringla said that defence sector will also be the focus area of discussion during Mr Putin’s visit.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wished all wildlife lovers and conservationists dedicated to protecting cheetah on International Cheetah Day today. In a social media post, the Prime Minister called the cheetah one of the planet’s most remarkable creatures, and recalled the success of Project Cheetah, launched three years ago. He highlighted that the project was launched with the aim of safeguarding this magnificent animal and restoring the ecosystem in which it can truly flourish. Mr Modi said that it was also an effort to revive lost ecological heritage and strengthen our biodiversity.
The Prime Minister further noted that it is heartening to see cheetah tourism growing in popularity as well. He added that India is proud to be home to several cheetahs, and a significant number of them are born on Indian soil. He encouraged more wildlife enthusiasts from across the world to visit India and witness the cheetah in all its splendour.
Mr Modi also lauded the support of the public in Cheetah conservation and said that this progress has been possible only through the collective support of people, especially the dedicated Cheetah Mitras. He underlined that protecting wildlife and living in harmony with nature are integral to India’s civilisational ethos and the spirit can be seen alive today in these efforts.
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President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have conveyed their greetings to all the Indian Navy personnel, veterans and their families on the occasion of Navy Day. In a Social Media Post, President Murmu highlighted that from securing trade routes and strengthening the blue economy to leading humanitarian missions, the Indian Navy embodies discipline, compassion and responsibility.
On this occasion, Vice-President Radhakrishnan said the Indian Navy stands as a symbol of the country’s maritime strength, vigilance, and commitment to safeguarding its national interests.
In a post on social media, Prime Minister Modi has recalled that he celebrated this Diwali with the Naval personnel on board INS Vikrant and termed it unforgettable.
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Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal said that, in recent years the North East has become a centre stage of development in the country. Addressing the media in New Delhi today, the Minister said that the region has seen a speedy growth across the sectors including connectivity and communication through various policies and programs implemented by the central government.
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Union Minister and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha Jagat Prakash Nadda has rejected the Opposition’s allegations that the government is avoiding discussion on issues raised by it. Responding to Congress Member and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge’s allegations, Mr Nadda today said in the House that the government is ready to discuss every issue in the Parliament and it has not avoided any discussion on issues demanded by the Opposition.
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Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi today launched the 100-Day Intensive Awareness Campaign for a Child Marriage Free Bharat in New Delhi, marking the first anniversary of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign. Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur was also present on the occasion. Reaffirming the nation’s commitment to ending child marriage, the Union Minister administered a national pledge to participants.
As part of the 100-day campaign, a series of structured awareness activities will be organised across schools, colleges, universities and Panchayats. The campaign will include awareness rallies, nukkad nataks, wall paintings, poster competitions, debates and Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat pledge ceremonies, aimed at mobilising communities and strengthening the national movement against child marriage.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Annpurna Devi said that the government has set a target to make India Child Marriage Free by 2030.
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The number of operational airports in the country has more than doubled in the last eleven years from 74 to 164. Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol said this in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. He said, India’s aviation industry has experienced significant growth in the past decade. The Minister informed that the Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik, launched in 2016, has enhanced regional air connectivity and made air travel affordable. Mr Mohol said, a total of around 24 crore Passengers have travelled through Domestic and International Flights during 2024-25.
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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has informed the Rajya Sabha that the National Investigation Agency, NIA has registered and investigated 27 human trafficking cases resulting in 169 arrest and chargesheet against 132 individuals. Replying to supplementaries in the House, Dr Jaishankar said that apart from this, NIA also arrested two key traffickers from Haryana and Punjab in August and two more individuals from Himachal Pradesh in October this year.
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The death toll in cyclone hit Sri Lanka has reached 479 with 350 still remaining missing, while the island braces for adverse weather conditions forecast for coming days.
Widespread destruction has been reported across multiple sectors in Sri Lanka due to the recent adverse weather conditions. According to the Commissioner-General of Essential Services, B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi, over 1700 tanks, 480 plus dams, and almost 2000 canals under the Department of Agricultural Services have been damaged.
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Fitch Ratings has revised India’s GDP growth forecast for financial year 26 to 7.4 per cent, up from the earlier projection of 6.9 per cent, citing robust private consumption and the positive impact of recent tax reforms. The global rating agency noted that private consumer spending continues to be the primary engine of growth, supported by strong real income gains, improved consumer sentiment, and the benefits emerging from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) 2.0 reforms.
For financial year 27, Fitch anticipates India’s growth to moderate to 6.4 per cent, with domestic demand remaining the dominant driver. Fitch also forecasts a strengthening of the Indian rupee next year, estimating it to hover around 87 rupee per US dollar.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, were trading slightly lower in afternoon trade today. The Sensex dropped 39 points to 85 thousand and 68, while the Nifty dipped four points to 25 thousand 982, when reports last came in.
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The top Indian shooters are geared up for the ISSF World Cup Final, set to take place from today in Doha, Qatar. India will field a 15-member team, led by world Champion Samrat Rana, alongside top shooters like Suruchi Singh and Manu Bhaker. The World Cup Final hosts the best shooters of the year in each of the 12 Individual Olympic categories, who will fight it out for the best shooter of the year award.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast cold wave conditions over Rajasthan, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Delhi for next two to three days. According to IMD, dense fog conditions are likely to prevail over Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Odisha till Saturday.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
- Russian President Vladimir Putin to arrive in New Delhi on a two day visit to India for India-Russia Annual Summit.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart to co-chair India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation in New Delhi this evening.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, protecting wildlife and living in harmony with nature are integral to India’s civilisational ethos; recalls success of Project Cheetah on International Cheetah Day today.
- Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi launches 100-Day Intensive Awareness Campaign for a Child Marriage Free Bharat.
- Fitch Ratings revises India’s GDP growth forecast for current financial year to 7.4 per cent, citing robust private consumption and positive impact of recent tax reforms.
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