Morning Brief: India To Maintain LAC Troop Deployment As Trust Deficit With China Remains; Rahul Gandhi To Lead Haryana Yatra In Last Minute Poll Push, And More

Dear Reader, here’s a rundown of the most important headlines this morning.

India To Maintain LAC Troop Deployment As Trust Deficit With China Remains

India is preparing for its fifth consecutive winter of forward deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, amid a significant trust deficit between the two nations. While political talks have indicated progress, military sources highlight continued concerns over China's build-up of military positions and infrastructure along the LAC.

The Indian Army is now transitioning to its winter posture, with large-scale stocking underway for troops stationed in eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. A high-level review meeting, led by General Upendra Dwivedi and top commanders, will be held in Gangtok on October 9-10 to assess the operational situation.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that India and China have made "significant progress" in resolving some outstanding issues in eastern Ladakh, with discussions aimed at restoring pre-April 2020 positions. Indian troops may soon regain access to previously obstructed patrolling points, the Indian Express reported last week. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently stated that 75 per cent of disengagement issues have been resolved.

Rahul Gandhi To Lead Haryana Yatra In Last Minute Poll Push

The Congress is ramping up its campaign for the October 5 Haryana Assembly polls with Rahul Gandhi leading a yatra starting today (September 30). While senior Congress leaders are not revealing the specific route, party sources indicate that this yatra will continue the themes of Gandhi’s earlier Bharat Jodo Yatra. The yatra is set to begin at 11 am from the Naraingarh and will conclude in Kurukshetra by 5 pm. Senior leaders, including former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state Congress chief Udai Bhan, are expected to join Gandhi on this journey. Priyanka Gandhi has not yet held a public rally in Haryana for the upcoming polls, while Rahul Gandhi has addressed two rallies on September 26 in Assandh and Barwala.

Israel Hits Iran's Proxies As Tensions Rise In Middle East

Israel's military launched a series of attacks on Sunday against Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions. The airstrikes reached as far as Yemen, where Israeli jets targeted Iran-backed Houthis. In Lebanon, an Israeli attack reportedly killed three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in a Sunni Muslim neighbourhood of Beirut, a claim that is yet to be independently verified. This incident would mark the first known Israeli assault within the Lebanese capital since the 2006 conflict with Hezbollah.

As these attacks unfold, Israel continues its military operations against Hamas in Gaza, signaling a potential intensification of its conflict on multiple fronts. Additionally, movements by the Israeli Army along the northern border hint at preparations for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon. The developments raise concerns of a broader regional war involving multiple countries and militant groups.

Other Developments

Nine-Month High FPI Inflows Lift India’s Global Weight

Foreign portfolio investor (FPI) inflows reached their highest level in nine months in September, lifting India’s share on the MSCI Emerging Markets Index to over 20 per cent. FPIs invested Rs 57,359 crore during the month, marking the most significant investment since December last year. September 2024 also recorded the fourth-largest net inflows from FPIs, partly due to FTSE’s semi-annual rebalancing, which added an additional Rs 7,000-10,000 crore. As a result, India’s MSCI weight increased to 20.7 per cent, following China’s 24.42 per cent. MSCI, like FTSE, is a global index provider whose indices are used by global money managers to allocate funds across asset classes.

France Lowers Price Of Rafale M Fighter Jets After Talks

India and France are nearing a deal for Rafale Marine fighter jets needed for Indian aircraft carriers, with the final price bid now significantly reduced. This price will be based on the 2016 deal for 36 Rafale jets acquired for the Air Force. The acquisition has been in the works for over three years and will likely be discussed during National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's visit to Paris this week. The Navy requires 26 fighter jets for its aircraft carriers and chose Dassault's Rafale M after evaluating the fighter along with other options like the Boeing F/A 18 Super Hornet. The Rafale M is being bought as a stop-gap solution as India develops its own Twin-Engine Deck-Based fighter.

North India Sees Its Best Monsoon In 11 Years

North India has experienced its wettest monsoon season in 11 years, recording 628mm of rainfall from June 1 to September 29. This represents a 7.1 per cent increase above the normal levels, although slightly below the national average of 7.8 per cent. The current season is expected to officially conclude on Monday, with the country as a whole witnessing its highest rainfall since 2020 and the fewest subdivisions reporting deficient rains since 2019. In north India, rainfall has been more abundant in the plains compared to hill states, except for Punjab, which has faced a 28 per cent shortfall. Overall, this marks the sixth consecutive year of normal to above-normal rainfall for India.

Smartphones Become India’s Largest Product Export To US

Smartphones have become India's largest product export to the US, surpassing non-industrial diamonds, primarily thanks to Apple's iPhones. In the June quarter of 2024-25, smartphone exports reached $2 billion, compared to $1.44 billion for diamond exports, according to data from the Department of Commerce. This trend began in the December quarter of FY24 when smartphone exports to the US hit $1.42 billion.

From The States

MVA To Finalise Seat-Sharing For Assembly Polls

Leaders of the MVA, which includes the Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar-led NCP, and Congress, will meet on today (30 September) to finalise their seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Assembly polls, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said. Reports indicate that the MVA has already finalised seat-sharing for 180 out of 288 seats, with discussions ongoing for the remaining seats. The elections are likely to be held in mid-November.

Supreme Court to Hear Atishi and Kejriwal's Plea

The Supreme Court will hear a plea from Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal challenging a Delhi High Court ruling that denied their request to dismiss a defamation case. The case arises from their comments about the alleged deletion of 30 lakh voters from electoral rolls, which the High Court deemed prima facie defamatory towards the BJP. The AAP leaders argue that the High Court's September 2 order unfairly targets their reputation while allowing the defamation proceedings to continue. The High Court found that the comments were made with the intent to vilify the BJP.

Bengaluru: BBMP Plans R39,000 Crore Borrowing For Infra Projects

Bengaluru’s civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), plans to borrow Rs 39,000 crore to fund major infrastructure projects, including tunnel roads and elevated corridors. The BBMP aims to secure funds primarily from domestic financial institutions, seeking a state government guarantee for the loans, similar to the financing model used for Namma Metr. Among the proposed projects, the construction of 43 km of tunnel roads is estimated to cost Rs 36,000 crore, with plans to raise about Rs 16,000 crore through innovative financing. The proposal also includes building 17 elevated corridors and double-decker flyovers to alleviate traffic congestion.

Stay tuned for more such in-depth stories from the ground. 

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