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Saturday, July 5, 2025 10:50 PM

Rajnath Singh

India, US Set to Sign New 10-Year Defence Agreement by Year-End

India and the United States are on track to formalize a fresh 10-year Defence Framework Agreement by the end of 2025, marking a new chapter in their strategic military partnership. The announcement was confirmed by US Senior Defence Spokesperson Colonel Chris Devine following a high-level phone conversation between US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. According to a Pentagon release, the two leaders agreed to finalize and sign the updated framework during their scheduled meeting later this year. The agreement aims to deepen defence collaboration, enhance joint operational capabilities, and promote greater defence industrial cooperation. Taking to social media platform X, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed optimism about the discussion, stating: “Glad to speak with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth today. We had an excellent exchange on advancing India-US defence cooperation and capacity building. I thanked the US for its consistent support in India’s fight against terrorism and look forward to meeting him soon.” Secretary Hegseth reiterated the United States’ commitment to strengthening defence ties with India, recognizing it as a pivotal partner in the South Asian region. Both leaders took stock of the progress made since the February 2025 Joint Statement issued by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, which laid out key defence goals. As per the Pentagon, the conversation also covered several strategic points: upcoming major US defence sales to India, the need for tighter defence industry collaboration, and enhancing joint military capabilities. India’s Ministry of Defence, in a separate statement, confirmed that the dialogue spanned a broad spectrum of topics, including long-term defence cooperation, personnel training, and expanded military exchanges. The discussions also touched on increasing joint exercises, interoperability between armed forces, logistical cooperation, and strengthening global partnerships with other like-minded nations. Both countries emphasized accelerating momentum in these areas to elevate their bilateral defence relationship to new heights in the coming decade. Source: ANI

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India Clears Indigenous Fifth-Generation Fighter Jet Project AMCA, DRDO to Spearhead Development

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India has formally given the green light to its ambitious fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme—the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). This move marks a major stride in strengthening the country’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing and aerospace innovation. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on Tuesday that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the execution model for the AMCA programme, which will be led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), a key arm of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The decision follows the Cabinet Committee on Security’s (CCS) prior approval of the project in March 2024. “In a significant push towards enhancing India’s indigenous defence capabilities and fostering a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is set to execute the programme through Industry partnership,” the MoD said in a statement. The ministry also confirmed that the ADA is expected to soon release an Expression of Interest (EoI) to kick-start the development phase of the AMCA. This step will pave the way for creating the aircraft’s prototype. While no official timeline has been specified in the recent announcement, earlier reports suggested a prototype might be ready within three years of the go-ahead, with a maiden flight potentially occurring within a year to 18 months after that. The AMCA is expected to feature advanced stealth technology, positioning India among an elite group of nations—such as the United States, Russia, and China—that have developed fifth-generation fighter jets. However, past delays and budgetary constraints have raised concerns about the project’s viability and timelines. The green signal for AMCA comes at a crucial moment for the Indian Air Force (IAF), which is grappling with a significant shortfall in its fighter squadron strength. The IAF currently operates around 29 squadrons—well below the sanctioned strength of 41. This shortfall has raised alarms, particularly given India’s increasingly tense security environment, with mounting threats from both Pakistan and China. The slow pace of aircraft procurement and challenges in domestic defence development have further exacerbated these concerns among military planners. The AMCA project is seen as a key initiative to not only bolster the IAF’s capabilities but also to catalyse the growth of India’s aerospace sector through industry partnerships and indigenous innovation. Source: Firstpost  

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PM Modi Chairs Day-Long Conclave with NDA CMs, Focuses on Good Governance and Development Synergies

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a comprehensive conclave in New Delhi, bringing together Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers from all 20 National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-governed states. The high-level meeting centred on strategies to accelerate development and ensure the effective delivery of governance through the “double-engine” model. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of enhancing coordination and synergy across sectors such as healthcare, sanitation, agriculture, youth empowerment, and technology. He also encouraged states to intensify their efforts in delivering public services and creating impactful governance outcomes. In a post on social media, PM Modi highlighted the extensive discussions held during the conclave, which included sharing of successful models and initiatives from various states. These ranged from water conservation and grievance redressal mechanisms to administrative reforms, women empowerment, sports, and education. Organised by the BJP’s Good Governance Department, the conclave saw participation from 20 Chief Ministers and 18 Deputy Chief Ministers. Senior BJP leaders including Party President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also took part in the day-long discussions. Speaking to the media after the meeting, BJP President JP Nadda stated that two key resolutions were adopted. The first praised the Indian armed forces for their bravery under Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror camps across the border. The second resolution reaffirmed the party’s stance on caste-based policies, clarifying that the BJP prioritises social integration and mainstreaming of backward communities without engaging in caste-based politics. The session also featured detailed presentations by the states showcasing their governance achievements. Additionally, leaders discussed preparations for major upcoming milestones, including the NDA government’s first anniversary on June 9, the 10th International Day of Yoga, and the 50th year since the declaration of the Emergency in 1975. The conclave reinforced the NDA’s collective commitment to good governance, innovation, and inclusive development across the nation. Source: newsonair  

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Modi 3.0: Full List of Ministers and Their Portfolios in the New BJP Government

The new council of ministers led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi includes 61 members from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 11 leaders from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies. Of the 72 ministers, 43 have served three or more terms in Parliament, and 39 were ministers in the previous Union government. Full List of Ministries and Ministers in Modi 3.0 Government Here is a look at the top ministers and the portfolios they held in the previous Narendra Modi-led government: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Portfolios: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, all important policy issues, and portfolios not allocated to any minister Ministry of Home Affairs Union Minister: Amit Shah Ministers of State: Nityanand Rai, Bandi Sanjay Kumar Ministry of Cooperation Union Minister: Amit Shah Ministers of State: Krishan Pal, Murlidhar Mohol Ministry of Defence Union Minister: Rajnath Singh Minister of State: Sanjay Seth Ministry of External Affairs Union Minister: S Jaishankar Ministers of State: Kirtivardhan Singh, Pabitra Margherita Ministry of Finance Union Minister: Nirmala Sitharaman Minister of State: Pankaj Chaudhary Ministry of Corporate Affairs Union Minister: Nirmala Sitharaman Minister of State: Harsh Malhotra Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Union Minister: Nitin Gadkari Ministers of State: Ajay Tamta, Harsh Malhotra Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Union Minister: JP Nadda Ministers of State: Anupriya Patel, Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers Union Minister: JP Nadda Minister of State: Anupriya Patel Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Union Minister: Mansukh Mandaviya Minister of State: Raksha Nikhil Khadse Ministry of Labour and Employment Union Minister: Mansukh Mandaviya Minister of State: Shobha Karandlaje Ministry of Food Processing Industries Union Minister: Chirag Paswan Minister of State: Ravneet Singh Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Union Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ministers of State: Ram Nath Thakur, Bhagirath Choudhary Ministry of Rural Development Union Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ministers of State: Dr. Chandra Shekhar Pemmasani, Kamlesh Paswan Ministry of Power Union Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar Minister of State: Shripad Naik Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Union Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar Minister of State: Tokhan Sahu Ministry of Tourism Union Minister: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Minister of State: Suresh Gopi Ministry of Culture Union Minister: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Minister of State: Rao Inderjit Singh Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Union Minister: Ashwini Vaishnaw Minister of State: L Murugan Ministry of Railways Union Minister: Ashwini Vaishnaw Ministers of State: Ravneet Singh, V Somanna Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Union Minister: Ashwini Vaishnaw Minister of State: Jitin Prasada Ministry of Civil Aviation Union Ministers: Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Murlidhar Mohol Ministry of Education Union Minister: Dharmendra Pradhan Ministers of State: Sukanta Majumdar, Jayant Chaudhary Ministry of Women and Child Development Union Minister: Annapurna Devi Minister of State: Savitri Thakur Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Union Minister: Bhupendra Yadav Minister of State: Kirtivardhan Singh Ministry of Jal Shakti Union Minister: CR Paatil Ministers of State: V Somanna, Raj Bhushan Choudhary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Union Minister: Kiren Rijiju Ministers of State: L Murugan, Arjun Ram Meghwal Ministry of Minority Affairs Union Minister: Kiren Rijiju Minister of State: George Kurian Ministry of Heavy Industries Union Minister: HD Kumaraswamy Minister of State: Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma Ministry of Steel Union Minister: HD Kumaraswamy Minister of State: Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma Ministry of Communication Union Minister: Jyotiraditya Scindia Minister of State: Dr. Chandra Shekhar Pemmasani Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region Union Minister: Jyotiraditya Scindia Minister of State: Sukanta Majumdar Ministry of Textiles Union Minister: Giriraj Singh Minister of State: Pabitra Margherita Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Union Minister: Prahlad Joshi Ministers of State: BL Verma, Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Union Minister: Prahlad Joshi Minister of State: Shripad Naik Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Union Minister: Hardeep Singh Puri Minister of State: Suresh Gopi Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Union Minister: Jitan Ram Manjhi Minister of State: Shobha Karandlaje Ministry of Panchayati Raj Union Minister: Lallan Singh Minister of State: SP Singh Baghel Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Union Minister: Lallan Singh Ministers of State: SP Singh Baghel, George Kurian Ministry of Commerce and Industry Union Minister: Piyush Goyal Minister of State: Jitin Prasada Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Union Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal Minister of State: Shantanu Thakur Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Union Minister: Dr. Virendra Kumar Ministers of State: Ramdas Athawale, BL Verma Ministry of Tribal Affairs Union Minister: Jual Oram Minister of State: Durgadas Uikey Ministry of Coal Union Minister: G Kishan Reddy Minister of State: Satish Chandra Dubey Ministry of Mines Union Minister: G Kishan Reddy Minister of State: Satish Chandra Dubey Ministers of State (Independent Charge) Rao Inderjit Singh: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Culture Dr. Jitendra Singh: Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space Arjun Ram Meghwal: Ministry of Law and Justice Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav: Ministry of Ayush

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BJP Leadership Shuffle: Bhajan Lal Sharma, Mohan Yadav, and Vishnu Deo Sai Take Charge as Chief Ministers in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officially announced Bhajan Lal Sharma as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan, following a conclusive BJP Legislature Party meeting held in Jaipur yesterday. The meeting, which commenced at 4 pm, saw the presence of all 115 BJP MLAs at the party office, marking a crucial moment in Rajasthan’s political landscape. The selection process was overseen by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Rajya Sabha member Saroj Pandey, and BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, appointed as observers by the BJP to ensure a smooth and transparent selection of the Rajasthan Chief Minister. The saffron party emerged victorious in the Rajasthan Assembly polls on December 3, securing a clear majority and displacing the Congress party. Notably, the BJP’s strategy in selecting chief ministers has taken an interesting turn in states like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, where the party also claimed victory. In Chhattisgarh, tribal leader Vishnu Deo Sai was chosen, while in Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, the party’s OBC face and former education minister, secured the chief ministerial position. Both choices surprised many as the BJP opted for fresh faces over seasoned leaders. Mohan Yadav, a three-time MLA from Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain South, is set to take the oath as the chief minister at Bhopal’s Lal Parade Ground. In Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai, a four-time Lok Sabha MP and three-time state BJP chief, will be sworn in as the CM at the Science College ground in Raipur. In Madhya Pradesh, Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Devda are expected to be sworn in as deputies of Mohan Yadav. However, in Chhattisgarh, the BJP is yet to make an official announcement regarding the deputy CMs. Speculations suggest that Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma might assume these roles alongside Sai. The swearing-in ceremonies in Bhopal and Raipur are anticipated to witness the presence of political heavyweights, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The BJP’s choices for chief ministers in these states reflect a strategic shift, opting for fresh and dynamic leadership over experienced veterans.

BJP Leadership Shuffle: Bhajan Lal Sharma, Mohan Yadav, and Vishnu Deo Sai Take Charge as Chief Ministers in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh Read More »