Today in History (April 29^th,1769)

On this day, Scottish engineer James Watt’s patent for a steam engine with a separate condenser got enrolled.

Summary of Today’s News

India and France Seal ₹64,000 Crore Deal for 26 Rafale-M Fighter Jets

• Agreement Finalised: India and France have finalized an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to procure 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy, valued at nearly ₹64,000 crore.
• Deliveries are scheduled to begin from mid-2028 and be completed by 2030.
• Signing of IGA: The agreement was signed remotely by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and France’s Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu.

This deal includes:

• Training, simulator, associated equipment, and weapons.
• Performance-based logistics.
• Additional equipment for the Indian Air Force’s existing Rafale fleet.
• Transfer of technology for integrating indigenous weapons like the Astra air-to-air missile.
• Training: Aircraft crew will undergo training both in France and India.

Job Creation & Infrastructure:

• A production facility for Rafale fuselage and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) facilities for engines, sensors, and weapons will be set up in India.
• The deal is expected to generate thousands of jobs and benefit numerous MSMEs.

UNSC’s Tepid Response to Pahalgam Attack Highlights Diplomatic Challenges

• The UN Security Council (UNSC) condemned the Pahalgam terror attack but the statement was viewed as weak and inadequate.
• The statement expressed condolences to India and Nepal (which lost a citizen), and reaffirmed the global threat posed by terrorism.
• It failed to:
  • Name The Resistance Front (TRF), which initially claimed responsibility.
  • Acknowledge TRF’s links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a UN-designated terror outfit.
  • Mention intent to target non-Muslims, an act aimed at inciting communal violence.
  • Refer to cooperation with the Indian government, as had been done in past statements.
• The statement was seen as “watered down” due to Pakistan’s current UNSC membership (2025–26) and China’s historical support for Pakistan.
• Negotiated by France, the UNSC President, but lacked strong input from key members like the U.S., Russia, and the U.K.
• India is likely to:
  • Push for a stronger statement at the UN General Assembly.
  • Seek designation of TRF and involved terrorists under UNSC sanctions, similar to Masood Azhar post-Pulwama.
  • Revive efforts at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and push for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN.
• Little hope is placed on Pakistan’s cooperation, based on past failures post-Mumbai (2008), Pathankot (2016), and Pulwama (2019).
• A multi-pronged global strategy and persistent diplomatic effort (as shown in the Tahawwur Rana case) are essential for justice and long-term peace.

Global Military Spending Surges in 2024

• According to SIPRI’s 2024 report, India’s military spending was nearly nine times higher than Pakistan’s.
• India spent $86.1 billion, up 1.6% from the previous year, ranking 5th globally in defense expenditure.
• Pakistan’s defense budget was $10.2 billion.
• Top 5 global military spenders: United States, China, Russia, Germany, and India — together accounting for 60% of global military expenditure ($1,635 billion).
• China:
  • Spent $314 billion, up 7%, marking 30 consecutive years of military growth.
  • Accounted for 50% of all military spending in Asia and Oceania.
  • Focused on modernization, cyberwarfare, and nuclear expansion.
• Europe:
  • Military spending rose 17% to $693 billion, driven largely by the Ukraine war.
  • Spending now exceeds Cold War levels.
• Russia:
  • Spent $149 billion, a 38% increase from 2023 and double the 2015 level.
  • Defense spending made up 7.1% of GDP and 19% of total government spending.
• Ukraine:
  • Spent $64.7 billion, a 2.9% rise, equal to 43% of Russia’s spending.
  • Military burden was highest globally, with 34% of its GDP allocated to defense.

India Blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube Channels, Rebukes BBC Over Pahalgam Attack Coverage

• The Indian government blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for spreading provocative, communal, and misleading content, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack.
• One blocked channel had a subscriber base of 14.6 million.
• The decision was made following a recommendation from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Blocked channels include Dawn News, ARY News, Samaa TV, Bol News, and Geo News.
• Simultaneously, India sent a formal letter to the BBC, objecting to its use of the term “militants” instead of “terrorists” in its coverage of the Pahalgam attack.
• The External Affairs Ministry conveyed India’s strong sentiments to Jackie Martin, BBC’s India head.
• The External Publicity Division will monitor BBC’s future reporting.
• A BBC spokesperson responded, stating the outlet aimed to report the incident accurately, impartially, and responsibly.