Daily Briefing: ‘Make in India’ lift-off for military aircraft production; PM Modi warns against ‘digital arrest’ frauds

With that, let’s move on to today’s edition:

• Tamil superstar Vijay’s first day, first show in politics
• PM Modi on ‘digital arrest’ frauds
• Tackling Delhi’s air pollution crisis

🚨 Big Story

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez will hold bilateral talks in Vadodara on Monday, and inaugurate India’s first private military transport aircraft production plant of the C295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force. This will be his first visit to India – the first by a Spanish PM after 18 years.

‘Beginning of an era’: The C295 is set to replace the legacy Avro-748 fleet, and will be deployed for tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, and for logistic operations to locations inaccessible to current heavier aircraft. As part of the first ‘Make in India’ aerospace programme in the private sector, the French aviation giant Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in fly-away condition from its Final Assembly Line in Seville, Spain, while the rest 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by TASL at the Vadodara facility. What is the C295 aircraft? Why is its acquisition important? We elaborate.

⚡Only in Express

“Will she seize it as an opportunity, which can enable the South to view itself not as a victim but as a powerhouse of new ideas and successful endeavours?”

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is all set to make her electoral debut if she wins the Wayanad bypoll, at a time when North-South tensions are brewing, thanks to the impending delimitation exercise. Neerja Chowdhury delves deeper on what could help Gandhi navigate this rocky terrain, as she turns a page in the current story of the party.

“When credit is given for asset creation, it enhances investment, productivity and growth in the economy.”

In the latest edition of Idea Exchange, The Indian Express’ Aanchal Magazine sits down with Prof Krishnamurthy V Subramanian, Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to discuss the economy’s rate of growth, the middle-income trap, the challenges from headwinds and skilling for industry.

📰 From the Front Page

First day, first show: Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party Tamiliga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) first political rally in Villupuram district on Sunday saw over three lakh people turn up. The superstar positioned himself as an alternative to Tamil Nadu’s established political order, announcing, “Our political plan is ‘pucca practical’.” He took aim at both the BJP at the Centre and the DMK state government and also declared that TVK would embrace the ideologies of Tamil icons like Periyar, but without “the anti-God position”.

Fair warning: Indians lost Rs 120.30 crore in “digital arrest” frauds in the first quarter of this year alone, the government cybercrime data. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’, highlighted such frauds as a prevalent method of digital fraud. About 46 per cent of cyber frauds reported from January to April originate from three contiguous southeast Asian countries: Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

‘Stop, think, take action’: In line with building awareness, the Prime Minister cautioned against such frauds in which scamsters posing as law enforcement officers call up people and threaten them of arrest to extract money. Explaining the modus operandi of such fraudsters, he clarified that there is no system of digital arrest under the law. He also said no government agency ever makes such calls and urged people to not fall victim to such scams.

📌 Must Read

Who can tilt the balance? With the United States Presidential elections just days away, the campaigns are engaged in a frenzied endgame to the very finish. Columnist Bhaskar Chakravorti sums up three notable groups who are crucial as both candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump make the final push for the undecided votes.

Winter woes… have already begun in Delhi. Even before one can feel the chill in the air, the yellow haze, a cocktail of pollutants in the air can be felt. Year after year, interventions have been planned — pushing for public transport, curbing dust pollution, a firecracker ban — to curb air pollution in the national capital. The Indian Express looks at what’s been promised and what’s been done on the ground.

Poll issue no more? There is no drought in Maharashtra this time, unlike in the last two elections – October 2019 state elections and the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. The run-up to the Assembly polls scheduled on November 20 has, in contrast, been marked by surplus (above long period average) monsoon rains. That means the 2024 Assembly elections are being fought amid not as much farm distress, however, low soyabean, cotton and milk prices could still be cause for farmer disquiet. Here’s why

⏳ And Finally…

Bone to pick: About 40 years ago, two geologists – GN Dwivedi and DM Mohabey – stumbled upon large dinosaur bones and fossilised eggs in Gujarat’s Balasinor taluka. Today, it is the iconic Dinosaur Fossil Park and Museum in Raiyoli. Last week, teams from the Geological Survey of India visited the protected fossil site to help pitch it as a UNESCO geological heritage site. But this home to the Rajasaurus narmadensis and Rahiolisaurus gujaratensis paints a picture of neglect.

In today’s episode of our 3 Things podcast, we discuss the situation along the India-China border, with an emphasis on the LAC agreement, before moving on to sharing the significance of the livestock census in India. Lastly, we take a deep dive into ED’s action on the scan around Diljit Dosanjh and Coldplay concert tickets.

That’s all for today.

Until tomorrow
Ariba and Vibha B Madhava

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