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Wednesday, July 2, 2025 3:00 AM

Narendra Modi

Biden Administration in Ongoing Talks with U.S. Congress on High-Altitude Drone Deal Amid Pannun Investigation Concerns

In a diplomatic development, the Biden administration is actively engaged in discussions with the U.S. Congress regarding the high-altitude drone deal, which was initially announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington in 2023. Contrary to expectations of a routine approval, a report from online news portal The Wire suggests that certain U.S. lawmakers have put a hold on the deal, linking it to concerns surrounding the Pannun investigation. The U.S. Embassy in India responded to the report, stating that the administration “continues to discuss with U.S. Congress the potential sale consistent with standard processes and policies guiding such arm sales decisions.” While indicating that Congressional clearance is still in progress, the response did not deny the reported hold on the sale by one or more U.S. lawmakers. As part of the standard process, the State Department routinely engages foreign affairs committees before formal notification to address questions from committee staff, according to a U.S. Embassy spokesperson. The report surfaced following a recent visit to Delhi by senior U.S. State Department officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu, emphasizing the need for India to show progress in the high-level enquiry committee related to the Pannun case. The investigation, led by the FBI and DEA, resulted in a charge-sheet against Indian national Nikhil Gupta. The case involves an alleged plot to target Khalistani separatists in the U.S. and Canada on behalf of a senior Indian security official. The case has drawn international attention, with U.S. lawmakers criticizing the Modi government during a Senate committee hearing in December 2023. While the Arms Export Control Act provisions were suggested to restrict arms transfers to countries engaged in acts of intimidation, the objections over the drone deal remain undisclosed due to the secrecy around the process. The deal for 31 MQ-9B high-altitude long-endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) is estimated to cost India over $3 billion and is a significant component of the high-tech collaborations between the two countries. The MQ-9B drones, aimed at bolstering the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces, are part of key technological deals between the U.S. and India. The ongoing negotiations and concerns highlight the complexity of international arms deals and their intersection with geopolitical considerations.

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PM Modi Declares August 23 as ‘National Space Day’ After Chandrayaan-3’s Lunar Success

In a momentous announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 23rd as ‘National Space Day,’ during his address to the accomplished scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) command centre in Bengaluru. The significance of this date stems from the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s south pole, a remarkable achievement celebrated as a milestone in India’s space exploration journey. Prime Minister Modi expressed his admiration for the Chandrayaan-3 team and particularly lauded the contributions of women scientists who played a pivotal role in the mission’s success. He revealed that the precise spot on the lunar surface where Chandrayaan-3 touched down would be named ‘Shivshakti,’ serving as an inspiration for future generations to utilize science for the betterment of humanity. He also designated the location where its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, had landed as the ‘Tiranga’ point. Highlighting the importance of advancements in science, technology, and space exploration, PM Modi emphasized that nations leading in these fields are scripting history. To encourage the youth’s involvement in science, technology, and space endeavours, he proclaimed August 23rd, the day of Chandrayaan-3’s lunar landing, as National Space Day. Modi celebrated the fact that India’s national pride now resides on the Moon, marking an unprecedented achievement. He commended the scientists for taking the ‘Make In India’ initiative to the lunar surface, underscoring the boost to indigenous production resulting from Chandrayaan-3’s success. Despite not being physically present during the Chandrayaan-3 landing, PM Modi virtually attended the event, congratulating ISRO chairman S Somanath and the entire team for their historic achievement in the lunar south pole region. Chandrayaan-3, a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2, aims to accomplish three key objectives: a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, rover mobility on the Moon, and in-situ scientific experiments. Following its successful landing on August 23rd, the lander (Vikram) and rover (Pragyan) will conduct a series of experiments on the lunar surface over the next two weeks. On a significant note, Pragyan rover has already made its debut on the Moon, covering a distance of 8 meters. While Chandrayaan-2’s soft-landing attempt didn’t succeed, ISRO’s orbiter from that mission continues to provide valuable data. ISRO’s historic achievement positions India among the world’s top four nations to achieve a soft landing on the Moon’s surface, and notably, it’s the first country to reach the unexplored southern polar region of the Moon.

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