India and Pakistan Renew Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Agreement for Five More Years

In a significant development, India and Pakistan have renewed the agreement concerning the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for an additional five years, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday. This renewed agreement aims to facilitate the pilgrimage of Indian devotees to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, located in Narowal, Pakistan.

The original agreement, which was signed on October 24, 2019, allowed Indian pilgrims to visit this sacred site without the need for a visa. It initially had a validity of five years and has now been extended to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the corridor for the benefit of pilgrims.

In their statement, the MEA highlighted the continued requests from pilgrims for the removal of the $20 service charge imposed by Pakistan on each visitor. India urged Pakistan once again to refrain from levying any fees on the pilgrims, emphasizing the need for ease of access to this important religious site.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar took to social media platform X to share the news of the agreement’s renewal, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government remains committed to facilitating the Sikh community’s access to their holy sites. Jaishankar provided a link to the official statement in his post, underlining the importance of this initiative for India’s Sikh population.

This agreement renewal marks a positive step in fostering greater cooperation between the two nations while also serving the spiritual needs of the Sikh community in India.

India and Singapore Strengthen Defence Ties at Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi

New Delhi, October 22, 2024 – In a significant move to bolster defence relations, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Singapore’s Minister of Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen co-chaired the sixth India-Singapore Defence Ministerial Dialogue today in New Delhi. This meeting, marked by a shared commitment to regional peace, stability, and security, comes as India celebrates a decade of its Act East policy, with Singapore playing a pivotal role in enhancing economic cooperation, cultural ties, and strategic connectivity.

Both Ministers expressed satisfaction with the trajectory of defence cooperation, noting the increasing frequency of engagements between the armed forces of the two nations in recent years. As 2025 commemorates 60 years of diplomatic relations, Singh and Ng agreed to further enhance their defence partnership and aim for new achievements. They also decided to extend the bilateral Joint Military Training Army agreement for an additional five years.

Recognizing their roles as natural partners, the Ministers concurred on the importance of co-development and co-production of defence equipment, planning to strengthen industry cooperation and explore collaborations in emerging fields such as automation and Artificial Intelligence. Additionally, discussions touched on advancing cooperation in critical areas like cybersecurity.

Shri Rajnath Singh expressed gratitude to Dr Ng Eng Hen for Singapore’s role as the country coordinator for India in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting – Plus from 2021 to 2024. Ng acknowledged India’s importance as a strategic voice for peace and stability in Asia. The two nations recently elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore.

The dialogue commenced with a ceremonial welcome for the Singaporean Defence Minister, who also paid tribute to fallen heroes by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.

This dialogue underscores the commitment of both nations to further deepen their defence collaboration, paving the way for a stronger partnership in addressing regional and global security challenges.

Modi and Putin Discuss Bilateral Relations and Geopolitical Issues at BRICS Summit

Kazan, Russia – Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in crucial talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday during the 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan. The discussions covered a range of important topics including the early discharge of Indian nationals currently serving in the Russian army and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressing the media following the bilateral meeting, stated that the issue of Indian nationals in the Russian military was a key focus of their dialogue. He mentioned that with Russia’s support, several Indian citizens have recently been able to return home and expressed hope that around 20 additional cases being handled by the Indian Embassy would see a similar resolution soon.

During the meeting, PM Modi reiterated his stance that dialogue and diplomacy are essential for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, sharing insights from his engagements with Ukrainian leadership. He underscored India’s readiness to assist in achieving peace in the region.

The two leaders also reviewed their nations’ ongoing defense cooperation and agreed to convene the next session of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Cooperation Group on Defence in Moscow soon. Discussions on energy projects, particularly the progress on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, emphasized the commitment of both nations to adhere to their mutually agreed schedules for the project’s remaining units.

Economic cooperation was another significant topic, with both sides exploring further collaboration in the financial sector and ensuring steady supplies of fertilizers and coal from Russia. President Putin assured his assistance in maintaining these supply chains.

India and Russia are set to host the 25th session of the Intergovernmental Commission on trade, technical, economic, and cultural cooperation in New Delhi on November 12, 2024. The upcoming meeting is expected to be led by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.

In reflecting on their discussions, PM Modi noted the depth of the India-Russia partnership and expressed gratitude to President Putin for his invitation to the summit. He acknowledged Russia’s leadership in BRICS and its efforts toward multilateralism and global governance reform.

The leaders also shared insights into bilateral cooperation across various sectors including trade, education, and people-to-people ties, while addressing regional and global issues of mutual concern. Misri highlighted the significance of Kazan in the historical ties between India and Russia, a city known for its rich cultural backdrop.

Upon arriving in Kazan, PM Modi was welcomed by members of the Indian community and local performers who celebrated the cultural ties between the two nations, featuring traditional Indian dances and musical performances inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.

The discussions between Modi and Putin signal a continued commitment to strengthening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the face of evolving geopolitical challenges.

Reliance Infrastructure Announces ₹10,000 Crore Investment for India’s Largest Defence Project in Ratnagiri

Mumbai, Maharashtra – In a significant move for India’s defense manufacturing sector, Anil Ambani’s Reliance Infrastructure Ltd has unveiled plans to invest ₹10,000 crore over the next decade for the establishment of India’s largest integrated project in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The Dhirubhai Ambani Defence City (DADC), set to be developed on a sprawling 1,000 acres in the Watad Industrial Area, aims to manufacture explosives, ammunition, and small arms.

The company has declared that DADC will represent the largest greenfield project undertaken by any private sector company in the country’s defense arena. Joining the ranks of industry leaders like Tata Group, Adani, and Larsen & Toubro, Reliance Infrastructure is making a strong foray into the defense manufacturing domain.

According to the company’s statement, “Reliance Infrastructure will invest over ₹10,000 crore over the next 10 years.” The firm has a notable track record, having exported defense equipment worth more than ₹1,000 crore through its subsidiaries. Jai Armaments Ltd and Reliance Defence Ltd, both wholly-owned subsidiaries, already possess government licenses for arms and ammunition manufacturing.

The ambitious project foresees potential partnerships with up to six leading global defense companies, aiming to offer a diverse range of ammunition products, including both small and large calibers, as well as terminally guided munitions (TGM). Additionally, the small arms portfolio is expected to cater to export markets for civil and military applications. However, the statement did not reveal the names of potential joint venture partners.

Reliance Infrastructure has previously established joint ventures with prominent French defense firms, including Dassault Aviation and Thales, further underlining its commitment to enhancing India’s defense manufacturing capabilities.

India Advances Development of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft with Tender for Critical Canopy Systems

In a major development for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has announced the issuance of a tender for the domestic supply of stretched acrylic canopy systems. This vital component will enhance pilot visibility and protection in the nation’s upcoming 5th-generation fighter jet.

The ADA is seeking six canopy bubbles designed to meet stringent military specifications, specifically MIL-W-81752A and MIL-C-81590, to ensure they can endure the demanding conditions of modern air combat. The canopies will be crafted from a specialized stretched acrylic laminated material known for its exceptional durability and optical clarity, and will be mounted on a robust metal frame. The complete canopy system is required to meet rigorous performance and safety standards.

The tender provides a significant opportunity for Indian manufacturers to engage in this pivotal national defense project. The selected supplier will not only be responsible for production but will also play a crucial role in refining the design of the canopy system, which includes tooling development, validation of manufacturing processes, and extensive qualification testing.

Specific performance requirements outlined by the ADA for the canopy system include:

• Service Life: A minimum of five years or 3,000 operational hours.
• Pressure Tolerance: Must withstand internal pressurization and external aerodynamic loads of 8.86 psi at temperatures up to 90°C.
• Bird Strike Resistance: Compliance with ASTM F 330, allowing for the canopy to withstand a 4 lb bird impact at speeds of 850 km/h while maintaining adequate safety and visibility for the pilot.

Additionally, the ADA has set strict deflection limits for the canopy bubble under stress, specifying permissible ranges in the Z, X, and Y directions.

The AMCA is being developed as a multi-role fighter jet with advanced stealth capabilities, projected to be a game-changer for the Indian Air Force. The sourcing and development of critical components, such as the canopy system, are crucial steps in realizing this ambitious defense initiative. As India moves forward with the AMCA project, significant milestones are being achieved in the quest to bolster the nation’s aerial capabilities.