Morning Brief: After NSA, Foreign Secretary To Visit China; Reliance To Build World's Largest Data Center In India; CBI Files Charge Sheet Against British 'NGO' Oxfam

Catch up on the day’s must-read stories with Swarajya's roundup of the morning's headlines.

After NSA, Foreign Secretary To Visit China

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will visit Beijing on January 26-27 to resume talks with Chinese officials, following the disengagement at the India-China border. His trip comes after a meeting in December 2024 between National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and just two months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan. Misri, who was India’s Ambassador to Beijing during the border standoff, is familiar with China’s leadership and will lead the first high-level engagement since the tensions. This announcement of Misri's visit came just a day after the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in Washington DC.

Reliance To Build World's Largest Data Center In India

Mukesh Ambani's Reliance plans to build the world's largest data centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, aiming to capitalise on the growing demand for artificial intelligence services. The data centre will be powered by AI chips from NVIDIA, a leading US-based AI technology company, and is expected to have a capacity of three gigawatts, surpassing current data centres with capacities under one gigawatt. The facility will integrate renewable energy sources like solar, green hydrogen, and wind, but will also rely on battery systems and fossil fuels for consistent power supply.

This new data centre will significantly boost India's AI infrastructure, tripling the country's current data centre capacity. Earlier in October 2024, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Ambani announced a partnership to develop cutting-edge AI infrastructure in India, with Ambani stating that India could become one of the world’s largest intelligence markets.

CBI Files Charge Sheet Against British 'NGO' Oxfam

The CBI has filed charges against Oxfam India and its executive director, Amitabh Behar, for allegedly breaking the law on foreign donations. The case, based on a complaint from the Ministry of Home Affairs in April 2023, claims Oxfam India tried to find ways to get funds despite losing its permission to accept foreign contributions. The charge sheet says emails from an income tax survey show Oxfam India planned to get foreign governments to help renew its permission. It also claims that Oxfam India funneled money from its foreign partners, like Oxfam Australia and Oxfam UK, to other groups, including the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), in exchange for commissions. Oxfam India, which was registered to carry out social work, denies the allegations, stating it follows all Indian laws.

Other Developments

Almost All Ideological Projects Completed in Last 10 Years, Says Shah

Union Minister Amit Shah highlighted the achievements of the Modi government over the past ten years, stating that it has accomplished key ideological goals, such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking in Ahmedabad, he said these were long-awaited changes that no one dared to pursue for decades after independence. Shah also mentioned other milestones like the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, the construction of Somnath Temple in gold, the end of triple talaq, and the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code. He noted how, in the past decade, expressing one’s Hindu identity has become more acceptable.

‘Use Of Loudspeakers Not Essential Part Of Any Religion’: Bombay HC 

The Bombay High Court ruled that using loudspeakers is not an essential part of any religion and directed the government to regulate noise levels at places of worship and institutions. The order came in response to a plea alleging police inaction against excessive noise from religious places. The court referred to its 2016 judgment, which stated that institutions violating noise pollution norms cannot claim protection under Article 25, which safeguards religious freedom. As per the Noise Pollution Rules, the residential limit is 55 decibels during the day and 45 at night, but some mosques in the city exceeded 80 decibels, according to a 2023 affidavit by the DCP.

Govt Issues Notice To Uber, Ola Over Pricing Discrepancy

The government has issued a notice to Uber and Ola over complaints of differential pricing based on whether users are using iPhones or Android devices. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi tweeted that the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) had sent notices to the companies, seeking their response to these concerns. Users on social media, supported by videos, claimed that iPhone users were charged higher fares than Android users for the same ride. Joshi described this as a potential unfair trade practice and a violation of consumer rights. He has instructed the CCPA to conduct a detailed investigation into the matter and submit a report.

Project-75I To Be India's 'Biggest Ever Defence Deal'

Mazagaon Dockyards Limited (MDL) announced it has been invited by the Defence Ministry to begin negotiations for the over Rs 70,000 crore Project-75 India deal, which involves building six advanced submarines. The commercial bid for the project was opened by the Ministry of Defence on January 16, 2025, with negotiations set to start on January 27, 2025. The deal, expected to be the largest defence contract in India’s history, is for submarines capable of staying underwater for three weeks. MDL also confirmed that commercial negotiations for three additional Scorpene-class submarines under Project-75 are ongoing. Earlier this month, the Ministry found Larsen and Toubro’s bid non-compliant for the same tender.

Trump’s Bid to End Birthright Citizenship Blocked In Court

A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at restricting birthright citizenship. US District Judge John Coughenour issued a 14-day restraining order, pausing the policy while the court reviews a request for a preliminary injunction. The executive order, signed on Trump’s first day back in office, sought to deny citizenship to children born in the US if neither parent is a citizen or legal permanent resident. Calling the order “blatantly unconstitutional,” Judge Coughenour strongly criticized its legal basis during the hearing. This ruling represents the first major legal challenge to Trump’s renewed push to redefine citizenship laws in the United States.

Trump Reaffirms Support For H-1B Visa Programme

US President Donald Trump has reiterated his support for the H-1B visa programme, emphasising the need for “very competent” and “great” people in the country. Speaking at a White House news conference, he stated that the program helps bring in skilled individuals, not just engineers, but people at all levels. Trump mentioned that businesses, like those led by Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Softbank’s Masayoshi Son, rely on the H-1B visa to bring in talent such as engineers. He highlighted that the H-1B programme is essential for expanding businesses and ensuring the best people come to the US. This marks the second time since his election that Trump has publicly backed the visa programme.

From The States

Tamil Nadu: Seeman Doubles Down On Criticism Of 'Periyar'

Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leader Seeman’s critical remarks on EV Ramasamy, known as 'Periyar', have sparked protests and over 70 cases against him in Tamil Nadu. Seeman accused Ramasamy of dividing Tamil society along religious lines, a claim strongly refuted by critics who highlight Ramasamy’s fight against religious orthodoxy. Durai Murugan, general secretary of the ruling DMK, warned that legal action would follow if peace is disrupted. Seeman, positioning himself as a Tamil nationalist, appears to challenge some Dravidian ethos embraced by major parties in the state. The controversy began after Seeman’s December 9 speech in Vadalur, where he criticised Periyar’s views on Tamil language, religion, and feminism, accusing him of undermining it.

Punjab Police Withdraw Kejriwal’s Security

Punjab Police have withdrawn the security detail assigned to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal following orders from the Election Commission and Delhi Police. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav confirmed the move, explaining it was based on instructions from the relevant authorities but stressed concerns about security threats to Kejriwal. He assured that Punjab Police would continue to coordinate with Delhi Police and other agencies to ensure the safety of the leader. The decision has drawn criticism from AAP, with senior leader Sanjay Singh accusing Delhi Police of forcibly removing Kejriwal's security.

Follow along for more updates throughout the day.