Morning Brief: ISI Chief In Bangladesh For The First Time In Decades, US Raises 'Irregular Immigration' Issue With India, Project 75(I) For AIP Submarines Moves To Next Stage

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

Pakistan ISI Chief In Dakha For The First Time In Decades

ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Malik’s visit to Bangladesh is the first by a head of Pakistan's intelligence agency in decades, raising concerns over security along India’s borders. Malik, who arrived in Dhaka via Dubai, was received by Lt Gen Muhammad Faizur Rahman of the Bangladesh Army, who has alleged ties to Islamists and Pakistan.

The purpose of Malik's visit is to establish an intelligence-sharing network aimed at creating disturbances in India through cross-border subversive activities. His trip follows a recent meeting between a Bangladesh army general and Pakistan's army chief, Gen Syed Asim Munir. This renewed military engagement comes after the ousting of elected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government by islamists last year.

US Raises Issue Of 'Irregular Immigration' In First Meeting With India

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised the issue of “irregular immigration” during his first meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Washington DC on Wednesday. While the discussion on tariffs remained unaddressed, Rubio highlighted the administration’s desire to strengthen economic ties with India, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. Jaishankar emphasized India’s support for legal mobility, citing the need to provide global opportunities for Indian talent while opposing illegal migration due to its broader negative impacts. Discussions are underway about a potential meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump during the AI summit in Paris on February 11-12.

Project 75(I) For AIP Submarines Moves To Next Stage

The Defence Ministry has moved forward with Project 75(I), a multi-billion dollar plan to build next-generation conventional submarines in India, with Mazagaon Dockyards Limited (MDL) advancing to the next stage after successful technical trials. MDL, in partnership with Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), has received approval from a committee that reviewed the bidding process and last year’s trials.

Despite some concerns over the air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, MDL’s proposal has been given the go-ahead for commercial negotiations. The next step involves opening the commercial bids submitted by MDL, followed by discussions on the technical and financial aspects before the Rs 43,000 crore proposal is sent for final approvals.

The project, which includes building six submarines with significant technology transfer, is expected to see the first submarine enter service nearly seven years after the contract is signed, with the AIP system enhancing stealth capabilities.

Also Read: Explained—What's Holding Up Indian Navy's Project To Get Submarines That Can Stay Underwater Longer

Other Developments

India To Increase Subsidy Spending To Over $47 Billion

India is expected to increase its spending on food, fertiliser, and cooking gas subsidies to $47.41 billion in the next fiscal year, reflecting an 8 per cent rise due to higher food and energy costs. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget on February 1, amid slower growth and global uncertainties affecting the economy.

The economic slowdown has been mainly attributed to weaknesses in urban areas and business investments, while the rural economy, where many subsidies are deployed, is showing signs of recovery. The food subsidy bill is projected to rise by about 5 per cent, reaching nearly 2.15 trillion rupees ($24.86 billion) for the coming fiscal year, driven by higher rice purchases and rising storage costs. In the current fiscal year, subsidies make up around 8 per cent of India's total annual spending of $557 billion.

Decline In US Citizenship Rates For Indians

US President Donald Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship has made things even more difficult for Indians in the US, who are already experiencing a decline in citizenship rates. Data shows Indians were the second-largest group to receive US citizenship over the past 12 years, after Mexicans, but their share has been decreasing since President Biden took office in 2021. During Obama's second term (2013-2016), 176,152 Indians were granted US citizenship, a number that grew to 215,738 during Trump's first term (2017-2020) and 231,563 in Biden's term. Despite the increase in absolute numbers, the share of Indians in total US citizenships granted dropped from 7.4 per cent under Trump to 6.7 per cent under Biden.

Supreme Court Questions Assam on Foreign Nationals' Detention

The Supreme Court has reprimanded Assam for failing to justify the detention of foreign nationals in state detention centres without deporting them. The court said that the fundamental right to life applies to all individuals, including foreigners, and called for immediate steps to deport them. The case involved 270 individuals held in Assam's detention centres and transit camps. The court granted six weeks for the state to file a compliance affidavit, expecting an explanation for the prolonged detention of these individuals, some of whom have been in camps for over a decade.

Scientists Solve 50-Year-Old Mystery About Martian Surface 

Scientists may have finally cracked the mystery behind the stark difference between Mars' northern and southern hemispheres. For over 50 years, researchers have puzzled over why the northern lowlands are 5-6 kilometers lower than the southern highlands, with a much thinner crust in the north. A new study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, suggests the answer may lie in internal heat transfer within Mars, rather than cosmic impacts. The study, based on data from NASA's InSight lander, proposes that ancient tectonic activity and mantle convection could have shaped the dichotomy. The findings also reveal that the southern highlands are ancient, magnetized, and cratered, while the northern lowlands are younger, less cratered, and lack magnetization.

From The States

Uttarakhand: Civic Polls Set Stage For 2027 Assembly Battle

Uttarakhand's local body elections today (23 January) hold greater significance for the BJP and Congress as both parties prepare for the 2027 Assembly polls. The BJP aims to strengthen its grip on the state, while the Congress, facing internal turmoil, hopes to rebuild its influence. After struggling in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state, the Congress had a brief revival with victories in Badrinath and Manglaur but lost the crucial Kedarnath bypoll to the BJP. The polls will determine the leaders of 11 municipal corporations, 43 municipal councils, and 46 nagar panchayats.

Karnataka: Sriramulu Threatens to Quit BJP Over Sandur Bypoll Blame

Senior Karnataka BJP leader and former minister B Sriramulu threatened to quit the party after being blamed for the defeat in the Sandur Assembly bypoll. Sriramulu claimed BJP general secretary Radha Mohan Das Agarwal accused him during a core committee meeting, despite his active campaigning until the last day. He expressed disappointment with state president B Y Vijayendra for not defending him and alleged the accusations stemmed from BJP MLA and mining baron Janardhan Reddy. Sriramulu accused Reddy of forming his own faction in Ballari and attempting to eliminate rival leaders politically.

Follow along for more updates throughout the day.