Morning Brief: China To Begin Stealth Fighter Deliveries To Pakistan By August; Yunus Again Tries To Sabotage Ties With India; Social Security Coverage Jumps To 64.3 Per Cent

Kick-start your morning with Swarajya’s Morning Brief – your news fix, curated for clarity and insight.

China Could Begin Stealth Jet Deliveries To Pakistan By August

Deliveries of 40 Chinese J-35A stealth fighter jets to Pakistan could begin as early as August, marking a major escalation in the country’s defence modernisation drive, The Times of India has reported. The deal, reportedly backed by a 50 per cent discount and easy payment terms from Beijing, has contributed to a 20 per cent spike in Pakistan’s defence budget, now pegged at $9 billion. Pilots are already undergoing training in China, and the Pakistan Air Force has formally cleared the purchase.

During last month’s military clash with India, Pakistan’s dependence on Chinese-supplied hardware — including J-10C fighters, HQ-9 air defence systems, and PL-15 missiles — proved deeply underwhelming. Several Chinese-origin weapons either failed to launch or missed targets, with the discovery of nearly intact PL-15 missile debris in Punjab fields turning into a public embarrassment for both Islamabad and Beijing.

Yunus Again Tries To Sabotage Relations With India

Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has once again targeted India, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring Dhaka’s request to curb online speeches by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Speaking at Chatham House in London, Yunus claimed Hasina’s addresses from India were provoking public anger in Bangladesh.

Yunus said he urged Modi to intervene, only to be told, “It’s social media, you cannot control it.” He added that Bangladesh had formally requested Hasina’s extradition and that legal proceedings were underway. “The tribunal has started the trial process… We want it to be legal, very proper,” he said.

Asked if India was responding in the way Bangladesh had hoped, Yunus replied: “No.”

India’s Social Security Coverage Jumps To 64.3 Per Cent

India’s social security net now covers 64.3 per cent of its population, up from just 19 per cent in 2015 — a 45 percentage point rise that benefits around 940 million people, according to the labour ministry citing ILO data. This makes India the second-largest provider of social protection globally, with further expansion expected as more schemes are verified in upcoming phases.

The government said this figure reflects only Phase I of a national data pooling exercise, which covered central schemes and women-centric programmes in eight states. With Phase II underway, total coverage is expected to cross the 1-billion mark. India is also working to finalise social security agreements with developed countries to ensure portability of benefits for Indian professionals abroad.

Trump Begins Troop Pullout Amid Iran Tensions

US President Donald Trump has said that some American personnel were being moved out of the Middle East, calling it “a dangerous place,” and reaffirmed that the United States would not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

The decision follows stalled nuclear talks with Tehran and signs that Israel may be preparing for a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting Washington to authorise voluntary departures from embassies in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.

Iranian officials warned of retaliation against US bases if attacked, while oil prices jumped over 4 per cent on news of the partial evacuation. Though the US embassy in Baghdad will scale down operations, embassies in Qatar and Kuwait remain open.

Other Developments

Starting 2026, Only ‘Trusted’ IT Gear Allowed In Power Sector

The Centre has mandated that all IT and telecom equipment used in India’s power sector must come from "trusted sources" starting January 2026, in a bid to strengthen cyber defences following threats exposed during Operation Sindoor. The Ministry of Power has been granted access to the Trusted Telecom Portal—originally set up by the National Security Council Secretariat for the telecom sector—to screen and clear vendors.

This requirement will not affect existing maintenance contracts or updates on currently deployed equipment. A coordination cell will be set up to ensure compliance across state utilities and other power entities. The move comes after a surge in cyberattacks on power grids, which, according to officials, were successfully foiled in recent months.

Car Dealers Face Record Rs 52,000-Cr Inventory Pileup

Car dealerships across India are grappling with a record Rs 52,000-crore worth of unsold inventory, as vehicle stocks pile up amid tepid retail demand. Despite signs of a slowdown, manufacturers have continued pushing vehicles into the market, leading to an estimated 440,000 unsold units — equivalent to 34–38 days of inventory as of May.

Industry body FADA warns the actual stock levels could be even higher, at 52–53 days, raising red flags over rising financial stress at dealerships. The mismatch between wholesale dispatches and retail sales is prompting calls for manufacturers to moderate supply. While some automakers have begun adjusting, others remain aggressive.

From The States

No End to Prez Rule in Manipur Without Ethnic Accord

President’s rule in Manipur is likely to continue until a political understanding is reached between the Meitei and Kuki communities, senior government officials said, even as efforts to form a new government are underway. Despite interest from several MLAs — including those from the BJP — to revive an elected government, the Centre remains cautious without a broader consensus.

Former CM N Biren Singh met Union home minister Amit Shah this week and said talks between community representatives are being planned. The state has been under President’s rule since Singh’s resignation in February. Earlier meetings between Kuki and Meitei groups have been held, and officials say more are in the works to achieve lasting peace.

Congress Expels Digvijaya Singh’s Brother

Congress has expelled Lakshman Singh, a former Madhya Pradesh MLA and younger brother of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, over repeated public criticism of the Gandhis. The move follows a series of statements by Singh, including his latest jibe at Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra after the Pahalgam attack, accusing them of “immaturity” and blaming them for the party’s decline.

Lakshman Singh has long had a rocky relationship with the party — switching briefly to the BJP in 2004 and returning in 2013 — and has openly opposed Congress stances on key issues, from EVMs and CAA to the Ayodhya Ram Temple event.

Minority Politics Takes Centre Stage in Kerala’s Nilambur Bypoll

The Nilambur Assembly by-election in Kerala has turned into a political slugfest over minority alliances, with both CPI(M) and Congress trading barbs over support from Muslim outfits. While the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Welfare Party of India has endorsed Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukkath, the CPI(M) is backed by the People’s Democratic Party Kerala, associated with Abdul Nazar Madani.

Accusing each other of communal politics, both parties are vying for the crucial Hindu vote, which makes up 45 per cent of the constituency. The CPI(M) has fielded a Hindu candidate, while the Congress has fielded a Muslim candidate. With Independent PV Anvar, also a Muslim, in the fray, the 43 per cent Muslim vote could split.

You’re all caught up—until next time.