Morning Brief: New Nuclear Submarine Project Cleared; Pakistan Tests The Waters For Diplomacy With India; Ratan Tata Passes Away

Dear reader, make sense of the day’s news with Swarajya's roundup of what’s making headlines this morning. 

New Nuclear Submarine Project Cleared

The Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the construction of two nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) for the Navy, costing Rs 45,000 crore. India aims to eventually induct six such submarines as part of its larger submarine development strategy. The government initially greenlit this SSN project in 2015, and design work commenced at the Submarine Design Centre in Gurgaon around 2017. 

The project is separate from the Arihant-class nuclear submarines (SSBNs) currently under construction, which are focused on nuclear deterrence. SSNs, by contrast, are designed for offensive operations, such as hunting enemy submarines and gathering intelligence. While both SSNs and SSBNs are nuclear-powered, they serve distinct roles.

Pakistan Tests The Waters For Diplomacy With India

It seems Pakistan is testing the waters for diplomacy with India as Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has called for climate diplomacy to tackle the smog crisis caused by stubble burning in India's Punjab. With External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar scheduled to visit Islamabad next week, Sharif stressed the importance of cooperation between the two nations to address the pollution issue that drifts across the border during the winter months. This upcoming meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on October 15-16 presents a timely opportunity for dialogue.

Ratan Tata Passes Away

Ratan Tata has passed away at the age of 86. Just days earlier, he had dismissed rumours about his health, saying he was undergoing routine medical tests due to his age. N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, announced Tata's death late last night.

Ratan Tata earned his bachelor of architecture degree from Cornell University in 1962 and briefly worked with Jones and Emmons in Los Angeles before returning to India later that year. After returning, he joined Tata Steel, where he started working on the shop floor. In 1975, he completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School.

Tata became the chairman of Tata Sons, the parent company of the Tata Group, in 1991. Under his leadership, Tata Teleservices was established in 1996, Tata Consultancy Services went public in 2004, and the group acquired Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus, enhancing its global presence. In 1998, he oversaw the launch of Indica, India's first truly indigenous car. He held the position of chairman until 2012.

Other Developments

Blinkit To Launch Cafe Service, Competing With Zepto And Swiggy

Blinkit is preparing to launch a café feature to deliver snacks and beverages, aiming to enhance its quick commerce offerings and align with parent company Zomato's 10-minute food delivery strategy. According to sources, the feature could debut in select cities this month, starting with fast-moving snacks like samosas and sandwiches, before expanding to items like pasta and noodles based on user response. The service will compete directly with Zepto Cafe, which was launched by the hyperlocal company in 2022. Swiggy also recently introduced a similar offering in parts of Bengaluru.

Congress Loses Elbow Room In UP Alliance After Haryana Defeat

Congress' humiliating defeat in Haryana, where it was expected to unseat the BJP, has diminished its leverage within alliances in different states. The party was caught off guard when its INDIA ally, the Samajwadi Party, announced candidates for six of the ten assembly seats up for by-polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Following the setback in Haryana, allies in the INDIA bloc have criticised Congress for not recognising the importance of regional parties in opposing the BJP. For instance, in Maharashtra, which goes to polls in the next few weeks, Shiv Sena (UBT) urged Congress to reflect on its repeated failures in direct contests, while other allies like the DMK are advocating for better seat-sharing accommodations.

Deal With US For 31 Drones Gets Final Nod

The Cabinet Committee on Security has approved the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B  drones from American firm General Atomics. The deal had to be approved before October 31, as the validity of the American proposal was set to expire by then. It is now expected to be signed in the coming days.  According to the contract, the defence forces will start receiving the drones over a four-year period after the deal is finalised.

Of the 31 drones, the Indian Navy will receive 15, while the Army and Indian Air Force will each get eight. The Indian Air Force and the Army are planning to jointly deploy their drones at air bases in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur and Sarsawa. As part of the Make in India initiative, Indian-made equipment from DRDO and private-sector firm Solar Industries may be used in the drones.

From The States

Maharashtra: Seven Castes Recommended For Central OBC List

Ahead of Maharashtra’s elections, the NCBC recommended adding seven castes and sub-castes from the state to the Central OBC list. These communities are already listed as OBC in the state. The Powar, Bhoyar, and Pawar castes were previously included but requested separate recognition. The Bhoyar, Powar, and Pawar communities are primarily in Vidarbha’s Bhandara and Gondia districts. Gujar sub-castes, also recommended for inclusion, are concentrated in north Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Polls Likely After 15 November

With the polls in Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana concluded, the Election Commission of India is preparing to announce the assembly elections for Maharashtra and Jharkhand, along with nearly 50 assembly bypolls, within the next week.

The Maharashtra administration has suggested scheduling the elections after the festival season, specifically post-November 15, due to the significance of Dev Deepawali on October 31, which prompts many residents to travel. This leaves the Election Commission with a tight timeline, as a new assembly must be in place by November 26. In contrast, Jharkhand has more flexibility, with a new assembly deadline set for January 5.

AAP Says It’ll Go It Alone In Delhi Election

Ahead of the Delhi election, AAP MP Raghav Chadha expressed confidence in his party's ability to win without the support of the INDIA bloc. He likened the Aam Aadmi Party to regional parties like the DMK and TMC, asserting that AAP can defeat the BJP based on its own strength in Delhi. When asked about the possibility of the INDIA alliance campaigning together in Delhi, Chadha stated, "AAP is fully capable of defeating BJP on its strength in Delhi. I don't think that the Aam Aadmi Party needs any support or a partner in Delhi." This comes after Congress's defeat in Haryana, where it had refused to ally with AAP.

Stay tuned for more insights throughout the day.