Morning Brief: India Submits Bid To Host 2030 Commonwealth Games In Ahmedabad; Rs 7,000 Crore Deal For Made-In-India Artillery Guns; China Trying To Exploit Anti-India Sentiment Among Lankan Fishermen

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India Submits Bid To Host 2030 Commonwealth Games In Ahmedabad: Report

India has submitted a bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, a move seen as a step toward securing the 2036 Summer Olympics, a report in India Today says. The Indian Olympic Association recently sent a letter of interest, marking the country's first major sporting event bid since hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The Commonwealth Games Federation will now evaluate India's proposal, with the final decision to be made by its General Assembly. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had earlier confirmed plans to bid, but India's request to include axed 2026 events to boost its medal tally was rejected. The Commonwealth Games have faced hosting challenges, with the 2026 edition’s fate uncertain after Victoria, Australia, withdrew due to rising costs.

Rs 7,000 Crore Deal For Made-In-India Artillery Guns Cleared

The Cabinet Committee on Security, led by the Prime Minister, has approved a Rs 7,000 crore deal for acquiring 307 advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS) and 327 gun-towing vehicles for the Army. These 155mm/52-calibre howitzers, developed by DRDO, have a strike range of up to 45 km and will be produced by Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems, with Bharat Forge manufacturing 60 per cent of the units.

The ATAGS will replace older 105mm and 130mm guns, significantly boosting the Army’s firepower along the borders with China and Pakistan. Over 65 per cent of its components, including the barrel, muzzle brake, and firing system, are domestically sourced, strengthening India's indigenous defence capabilities. India has also secured export orders for ATAGS, which are praised for their accuracy, mobility, and ability to fire five-round bursts, outperforming many foreign artillery systems.

China Trying To Exploit Anti-India Sentiment Among Sri Lankan Fishermen

China may be trying to exploit local fishermen's grievances in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka to stir tensions with India in the Indian Ocean Region, ET has reported. Fishermen from Sri Lanka’s Northern islands plan to protest next week against what they claim is “encroachment” by Indian fishermen. Senior Chinese officials have recently met with representatives of these fishermen to understand their concerns, raising suspicions of Beijing’s deeper involvement. While China may be seeking to increase its presence in these regions, the Northern Province Rural Fishermen’s Association has stated it will not be used against India. Despite ongoing tensions, Sri Lankan authorities continue to arrest Indian fishermen and seize their belongings.

Other Developments

113 Maoists Killed In 80 Days In Chhattisgarh

Security forces killed at least 30 Maoists in encounters in Bijapur and Kanker districts of Chhattisgarh on Thursday (20 March), with one security personnel also losing his life. The larger operation took place in Bijapur’s Gangaloor, a stronghold of insurgents, where 26 Maoists were neutralized. In the last 80 days, security forces have eliminated 113 Maoists in the state, with 91 of them in Bijapur. Last year, 287 Maoists were killed in the Bastar division. The government has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards insurgents who refuse to surrender, aiming for a Naxal-free India by March 31 next year.

MoD Approves Procurement Proposals Worth Rs 54,000 Crore

India’s defence ministry has approved military modernisation projects worth over Rs 54,000 crore, including BrahMos missiles, ‘Netra’ AEW&C aircraft, upgraded engines for T-90 tanks, naval anti-aircraft missiles, and torpedoes.

X Sues Indian Government Over Content Blocking

X, formerly Twitter, has filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court challenging the Indian government's use of Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act to demand content removal. The company argues that authorities are bypassing legal procedures and creating an illegal system to block content online. While platforms risk losing safe harbour protection if they fail to comply, X contends that this section does not grant the government blocking powers. It claims that authorities are misusing it to bypass Section 69A, which has defined safeguards as per the Supreme Court’s 2015 Shreya Singhal judgment. X warns that this unchecked use of Section 79(3)(b) could lead to widespread censorship in India.

Pentagon To Brief Elon Musk On China War Plans

The Pentagon is set to brief Elon Musk on Friday (21 March) about US military plans for a potential war with China, officials said. The briefing, which will focus on China, marks a significant expansion of Musk’s role as an adviser to President Trump. As the head of SpaceX and Tesla, Musk has major government contracts and financial interests in China, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. Pentagon war plans, known as operational plans or O-plans, are among the military’s most classified secrets, as revealing them could weaken U.S. strategy. The top-secret briefing includes 20 to 30 slides detailing how the U.S. would respond to a Chinese threat, outlining target options and timelines for presidential decisions.

From The States

Karnataka Minister Claims 48 MLAs Honey-Trapped

Karnataka Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna claimed that 48 MLAs in the state have been honey-trapped and revealed that there was an attempt to trap him as well. His remarks followed BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal’s allegation that legislators were being targeted with an eye on the chief minister’s post. Rajanna called for a special investigation, stating that pen drives containing evidence against both ruling and opposition party members exist and that even national leaders are victims. Home Minister G Parameshwara, responding in the House, assured that the government would order a high-level probe into the matter.

Nagpur Clashes: VHP, Bajrang Dal Accounts Among 50+ Named in FIRs

Nagpur cyber police registered four more FIRs over the recent violence, including one for sedition against Fahim Khan, city president of the Minorities Democratic Party, for social media posts. The violence erupted after a call to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb, leading to a curfew that has now been partially lifted. DCP Lohit Matani said Khan edited and circulated a protest video to glorify stone-pelting on police, and his devices have been seized following his arrest. The FIRs also name over 50 social media profiles, including some linked to VHP and Bajrang Dal, for inciting violence.

Khasi Opposition Stops Rail Link To Shillong

The Indian Railways is set to shelve pending railway projects to Byrnihat and Shillong after years of opposition from Khasi pressure groups fearing an influx of outsiders. This will leave Shillong as the only state capital without railway connectivity or an ongoing rail project. Meanwhile, fresh protests have emerged in Jaintia Hills against a newly sanctioned railway line to Jowai, the region’s largest town. Meghalaya currently has only one railway station at Mendipathar, operational since 2014, while the Khasi Students’ Union has opposed railway expansion in Khasi Hills since the 1980s.

You’re all caught up—until next time.