Today in History (April 24^th,1993)

India celebrates National Panchayati Raj Day, annually on April 24^th to mark the commencement of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1993, which introduced the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in India.

Summary of Today’s News

India’s Stern Response Following the Pahalgam Terror Attack

In the wake of a devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 dead, the Indian government has announced a series of decisive actions against Pakistan. These measures, following a high-level security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflect a significant escalation in India’s diplomatic and strategic posture.

• Cabinet Committee on Security Meeting Chaired by PM Modi
  Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in New Delhi on Wednesday to assess the security implications of the Pahalgam terror strike and finalize India’s response.
• Indus Waters Treaty Put on Hold
  Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that India will suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan “with immediate effect,” pending Pakistan’s credible and irreversible renunciation of cross-border terrorism.
• Closure of Attari Integrated Check Post
  The Attari check post has been closed immediately. Pakistani nationals who entered India on valid visas through this post must return by May 1.
• Revocation of SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani Nationals
  Pakistani nationals are now barred from traveling to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. All previously issued SVES visas are canceled, and individuals currently in India under this scheme must leave within 48 hours.
• Diplomatic Retaliation: Military Advisers Declared Persona Non Grata
  India has declared Pakistani military advisers in New Delhi as persona non grata and given them a week to depart. Correspondingly, Indian defence advisers in Islamabad will also be withdrawn, alongside five support staff from both missions.
• Reduction in Diplomatic Missions’ Staff
  By May 1, 2025, the diplomatic strength at both the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi will be reduced from 55 to 30 personnel.
• Heightened Security Measures and Justice for Perpetrators
  The CCS directed all security forces to remain on high alert. Foreign Secretary Misri emphasized India’s commitment to bringing the perpetrators and their sponsors to justice, citing the extradition of Tahawwur Rana as an example of India’s determination.
• All-Party Meeting to Forge Political Consensus
  Union Home Minister Amit Shah initiated an outreach to political parties, calling for an all-party meeting to discuss the national response. Leaders, including Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, have expressed solidarity, while parties like the NCP had already called for such a meeting.

India’s first Quantum Computing Village in Amaravati

• Recently, the Andhra Pradesh Government took a significant step toward establishing India’s first Quantum Computing Village in Amaravati.
• This ambitious initiative is aimed at creating a cutting-edge ecosystem for research and collaboration in quantum computing.
• The project, supported by the Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS), will span across 50 acres of land.
• This state-of-the-art facility will function as a central hub for institutions and businesses to access advanced quantum computing resources.

Infrastructure and Ecosystem Development

• The Quantum Computing Village will feature a landmark building, designed by IBM, that will house advanced quantum systems and a dedicated data center for high-performance computing.
• Collaborations with industry giants such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and L&T will be crucial for finalizing infrastructure plans.
• The initiative aims to support the IBM Quantum System Two, representing a major advancement in India’s quantum computing capabilities.

Key Features of Quantum Computing

• Quantum computing utilizes the principles of quantum mechanics to perform complex computations.
• Unlike classical computing, which uses bits to represent data as 1s and 0s, quantum computing employs qubits.
• Qubits have the unique ability to exist in a state of superposition, representing both 1 and 0 at the same time.
• This feature allows quantum computers to execute calculations much more efficiently than their classical computers.

Principles of Quantum Mechanics

Quantum computing is governed by several fundamental principles:

• Superposition: Qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously, enabling parallel computation.
• Entanglement: A change in one qubit can instantaneously affect another, no matter how far apart they are.
• Decoherence: Quantum systems may collapse into a definite state, which can then be measured by classical physics.
• Interference: Quantum interference allows particles to modify their paths, enhancing computational power.

Applications of Quantum Technology

Quantum technology is set to revolutionize various industries:

• Pharmaceuticals: It could speed up drug development and simulate molecular behavior.
• Chemistry: Quantum computing has the potential to improve catalysts and optimize chemical processes.
• Advanced Technologies: Quantum materials could lead to more energy-efficient devices and improved healthcare diagnostics.
• Machine Learning: Quantum algorithms could analyze complex data sets, optimizing artificial intelligence models.
• Disaster Management: Quantum applications may enhance the prediction of natural disasters.
• Secure Communication: Quantum cryptography offers nearly unbreakable encryption, strengthening cybersecurity.

Suspected Local Involvement in Pahalgam Terror Attack

• Two Kashmiris Among Attackers
  Two Kashmiri men, Adil Guri from Anantnag and Ahsan from Pulwama, are suspected to be part of the group of six to seven terrorists involved in the deadly attack. Both had crossed into Pakistan in 2018 and reportedly infiltrated back recently with Pakistani militants.

Targeted and Brutal Nature of the Attack

• Attack Aimed at Male Tourists Based on Religion
  Eyewitnesses and sources confirmed that terrorists separated groups of tourists, asked for their names and religion, and then shot men at point-blank range in front of women and children. The brutality suggests clear communal targeting.
• Militants Used Helmet Cameras to Record the Assault
  Attackers reportedly used helmet-mounted cameras to film the massacre, indicating a premeditated plan to document the act.
• Disguises and Weapons
  Terrorists wore camouflage and black clothing, and were armed with AK-series rifles. They mingled with tourists before launching the assault.

Security and Tactical Gaps

• Security Lapses Questioned
  Despite prior intelligence inputs, no security personnel were deployed at the Baisaran meadows — a popular trekking spot near Pahalgam. Local politicians have raised concerns over this lapse.
• Remote Location Chosen Deliberately
  Baisaran is inaccessible by road and reachable only by foot or pony, making it vulnerable and difficult to monitor. The attackers fled into the dense Baisaran forest range, which connects to remote valleys, complicating the search.

Manhunt and Response

• Massive Search Operation Launched
  Choppers and elite commandos were deployed to track the militants in the upper reaches of the forest. The search extended into adjoining valleys up to Warwan in Kishtwar district.
• Photographic Evidence and Sketches Released
  J&K police released sketches of three Pakistani suspects. A photo matching these suspects, found earlier at an encounter site in Poonch, has been circulated by security agencies.
• ₹20 Lakh Bounty Announced
  Police have offered a ₹20 lakh reward for information leading to the neutralization of the terrorists, assuring anonymity for informants.
• TRF Claims Responsibility
  The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility online, though security forces have not confirmed the authenticity of the claim.

Preventive and Precautionary Measures

• Questioning of Former Militants Ongoing
  Hundreds of former militants and overground workers are being interrogated in Kashmir following the attack.
• Pandit Employees Asked to Work from Home
  As a precaution, Kashmiri Pandit employees under the PM’s employment package in Baramulla have been advised to work remotely till April 27.