
Civil defence mock drill to be conducted across Gujarat
28 May 2025, 21:01 GMT+10
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], May 28 (ANI): As per the orders from the Government of India and under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, a civil defence exercise will be conducted in Gujarat on Thursday at 5:00 PM. After the grand success of Operation Sindoor, a mock drill will be organised in every district of Gujarat as part of advance preparation to counter any possible attack from the enemy country.Regarding Operation Shield mock drill, Ravi, on Wednesday, virtually reviewed preparations made by the district administration. Along with this, she also gave necessary instructions to all the District Collectors for successful implementation of mock drill. Further, Jayanti Ravi said that during this exercise, various actions like ensuring the readiness of the local administration regarding civil security; taking the services of young volunteers like NCC, NSS, Bharat Scout and Guide; setting up a hotline between the Air Force and the Civil Security Control Room regarding enemy aircraft and missile attacks; activating the air raid siren; ensuring complete darkness and ensuring public safety and their property will be taken. Apart from this, necessary instructions have been given to the District Collectors to take necessary action regarding the medical team and blood donation for immediate treatment of the injured after a possible attack and to prepare necessary action plans regarding the immediate deployment of Home Guards of the Border Wing, Armed Wing personnel in a possible war situation. Along with this, the Collectors have also been informed about timely coordination by all the necessary departments and stakeholders during this exercise, she added. As per the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, a civil defence exercise (Civil Defence Mock Drill) was conducted on May 7 to check and evaluate the security arrangements of the citizens living in sensitive areas of the country. Based on this, the civil defence arrangements have been strengthened in some sensitive areas of the country.Operation Sindoor was India's decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor led to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India Today
26 minutes ago
- India Today
Next-generation GST reforms will reduce tax burden, boost growth: CEA
Chief Economic Advisor Dr. V Anantha Nageshwaran has said that the proposed overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) marks a big step forward in India's economic reform journey, building on measures announced earlier this year.'So first of all, the Government of India, before the GST reforms in the budget itself in February, gave a significant direct tax break for middle class households and that will kick in this year,' Nageshwaran told in an interview with India Today other words, the taxes that households, individuals will be paying this year will be much lower than what they paid last year because in the budget significant tax reliefs were extended on the direct taxes side.' He noted that the latest GST measures should be viewed in continuity with recent fiscal decisions. 'So this is coming on top of that. So we should not forget that is a very significant reform measure already announced on February 1 this year,' he highlighted that GST rates have been trending lower over time. 'The weighted average GST rate, if anything over the years has been coming down, if anything from 15% if I am not mistaken down to 11 plus percent, the average rate,' he said. 'GST also has a lot of zero-rated items and a very few items in the 28% category and the number has whittled down over the years.'Calling the current proposal a continuation of the eight-year GST journey, he said, 'This is, we must see this as a sort of a significant move but it is something a continuation of what has been happening over the last eight years of the GST journey.'The CEA stressed that the changes will have far-reaching benefits. 'I think it will definitely reduce the indirect tax burden on items of common consumption and also inputs to businesses,' he said.'So it is going to put more money in the hands of households again in terms of disposable income, will contribute to lower inflation rate which means it also opens up space for central bank to take note of that and it also lowers input cost for businesses at a time when they are facing external uncertainty.'Terming the proposed shift a 'next-generation reform,' Nageshwaran added, 'I think the Prime Minister was very right to label it sort of a next generation reform not just with respect to GST but in terms of the impact it will have on the rest of the economy. And it will be a Diwali gift.'- Ends


News18
an hour ago
- News18
Trump's Mistake Is India's Opportunity To Make The Most Of China, Russia Ties
PM Modi's high-level engagements with Russian and Chinese Presidents — Putin in New Delhi, Xi in Beijing - make room for an array of opportunities in a moment of crisis. High-level meetings, intense negotiations, a high-stakes chess game of diplomacy and deal-making in full-swing. I am not talking about India's deal with the US. But with Russia and China. That's right. India has an opportunity in Trump's tariff crisis. And it's taking that opportunity with both hands. PM Modi's high-level engagements with Russian and Chinese Presidents — Putin in New Delhi, Xi in Beijing and possibly a symbolic RIC meet on the sidelines of the SCO summit – make room for an array of opportunities in a moment of crisis. Even as India navigates Trump's tariff war, it has legitimate areas to address with respect to Moscow and Beijing. India has a large trade deficit with Russia, driven by oil sales swelling abruptly over the course of the Ukraine war, which New Delhi wants addressed. Meanwhile, the reset with China has entered fertile ground in the current geopolitical circumstances, which raises the chance of good faith outcomes and mutual understandings. The United States under President Donald Trump has triggered geopolitical shockwaves far beyond the realm of trade and tariffs. One of the worst hit has surprisingly turned out to be India. While Trump's classic style of deal-making could not breach India's redlines, a number of geopolitical threats emerged on the table, essentially upending India's entire calculus around its relationship with the US and its place in the Indo-Pacific. Trump made a series of provocative missteps, weaponising Pakistan against India, seeking credit where it was not due on Operation Sindoor and trying to mediate on Kashmir. This couldn't fly with India which made its displeasure known, leading to a conflict of minds right at the very top. The stage was set for a grand fallout. But the trigger came from the trade deal. Trump had expected big numbers, large unrealistic commitments in terms of investments, defence and energy purchases, credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire, perhaps a nobel prize nomination, maybe even more. This was when Trump introduced the Russia card seemingly out of nowhere. Failing to get Russia to agree on a ceasefire in Ukraine for six months, Trump changed tack and decided to go after Russia's oil customers. The American President steered clear of China, the number one buyer of Russian oil and went for the 2nd best thing — India which he may have found easier to bully. He threw Russian oil into the mix of trade negotiations to build the ultimate leverage, dramatically close to his tariff deadline. Now India faces 50% tariffs from the US, the highest for any country, a stark uncertainty about any future trade deal, and a relationship so sour it could make a lemon blush. Western experts have become increasingly wary of India's deepening alignment with BRICS partners especially with Russia and China as a result of Trump's missteps. India will welcome Putin for an annual bilateral summit later this month, after which PM Modi will head to China for the SCO summit where he will be meeting Xi Jinping. Even the Russia-India-China trilateral may be in season – something both Russia and China crave. Moreover, China and India have been pursuing a reset, with India showing more hesitation than China on the economic front. But it's time to turn Trump's tariff crisis into an opportunity with Russia and China. Starting with Russia, India has developed a large trade deficit in the last three years of the war in Ukraine. India's purchase of discounted Russian oil drove this deficit. A lot of these payments were done through the rupee-ruble payment system, which means Russia holds billions of rupees right now which India wants it to pump back into the Indian economy as investments and for imports from India. When External affairs Minister s Jaishankar visited Russia in November in 2024, he raised with Putin this ballooning trade deficit calling for its 'urgent redressal". Bilateral trade has grown one-sidedly. In 2021, India-Russia trade was just about $1 Billion. But it rose sharply after the Ukraine war. Oil prices skyrocketed, and India started buying discounted Russian oil, taking trade to almost $71 billion, with Indian imports at $65.7 billion and exports to Russia at $4.9 billion. In just a few years, trade surged by 6000% taking the trade deficit as high as $61 billion. Resolving this matter is crucial to establishing a long-term and sustainable trading partnership. India has several asks from Russia to settle this imbalance and they will be at the top of the agenda as the leaders meet later this month: Firstly, Russia must reduce non-tariff barriers and increase imports of pharmaceutical, machinery, chemicals and agricultural products. It can invest in Indian infrastructure, manufacturing and services. There are talks on a bilateral investment treaty to push this. Russia must expedite the Free trade agreement or FTA talks with the Eurasian Economic Union whose members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Russia now holds billions of rupees in Indian banks, especially in Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs). India pushed for Russia to invest these rupees back into the Indian economy. Several mechanisms have been put in place: RBI has allowed Russian entities to invest rupee balances in sovereign and infra-linked securities. Regulations now permit Russian investment in Indian stocks and bonds. India and Russia are exploring mechanisms akin to the India–UAE model (invoicing and payments in rupee/dirham based on central bank arrangements) and discussions are underway on implementing trilateral settlement mechanisms involving the UAE. Moreover, Russia's oil discounts have narrowed from their peak of above $12 per barrel to just $2-3/barrel. As demand shrinks from Indian refiners given the narrowing discounts and later the tariff threat from America, Russia has sought to deepen the discounts to $5/barrel. All in all, India's trade gap with Russia is hitting the roof—fueled by oil and the rupee–ruble tango. Russia's parking its rupees in Indian assets, but closing the gap needs more Indian goods going out and Russian cash coming in. Oil discounts that once gushed have trickled, but to secure its place in the Indian oil import basket, Russia might want to sweeten the deal again. When it comes to China, another crucial opportunity awaits. Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to India on August 18 to meet NSA Ajit Doval set the stage for PM Modi's first trip to China in seven years, aimed at 'instilling positivity in the relationship". While the reset in India-China relations started in 2024, it has gained momentum under current geopolitical conditions, opening the door for constructive outcomes. India wants Beijing to step up transfers of rare earths, strategic machinery and specialty fertiliser, all of which it has weaponised in trade negotiations. Meanwhile, New Delhi may consider easing restrictions on Chinese investments in select sectors—helping address its nearly $100 billion trade deficit. Post-Galwan, India had largely shut the door on Chinese investments for national security reasons, allowing approvals only on a case-by-case basis. However, with global investments drying up amid Trump's tariff war, India has pragmatic reasons to cautiously reopen. This is a key ask from the Chinese side as it seeks to be a development partner. Both sides have used their leverage to force favourable outcomes, and now they are close to finding a settlement. The flurry of movement of late speaks for itself—China resumed the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, India resumed tourist visas for Chinese nationals after five years and both nations are to restart direct flights. Another major confidence building measure is the resumption of border trade. China has also eased curbs on urea shipments, a massive batch of diesel oil has been shipped to China from India's Nayara refiner which faces EU sanctions, and expectations are high for further relaxation on specialty fertilizer and rare earth exports. This rapprochement could become a win-win if managed strategically, with major announcements possible during a likely Modi-Xi meeting. Such progress may even boost military disengagement in the Himalayas. top videos View all Does that mean China can be trusted? Absolutely not. Beijing remains a military and strategic adversary, with an unresolved boundary dispute and an enduring alliance with Pakistan. Yet, peace thrives on nuance. Just as a bloody border clash once destabilised economic engagement, a deliberate effort to stabilise economic ties could, over time, ease tensions on the strategic and military front. Through more than four years of a military standoff, China has received India's message of resilience in the face of an adversary. China has recently tried to cultivate goodwill with India, recognising that peace serves its interests as much as India's, and has behaved with relative restraint at the border. This dialogue has the potential to lay out a roadmap for peaceful bilateral ties in the years ahead. The key is to preserve the positive while keeping a watchful eye on the negative, and if this reset brings a few years of peace and growth, that would be an optimal outcome. Simply put, India was already on its way to reset ties with China, and to address the trade imbalance with Russia. With Trump's antics, both these missions become even more urgent. There are no real friends in geopolitics, only interests. Now, as Trump's trade bombs drop and global norms unravel, New Delhi's playbook is simple—adapt, hustle, and never bet on 'forever friends'. About the Author Shubhangi Sharma Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. tags : donald trump finepoint India-China ties India-Russia ties pm narendra modi view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 19, 2025, 10:35 IST News opinion Finepoint | Trump's Mistake Is India's Opportunity To Make The Most Of China, Russia Ties Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Bluffmaster Asim Munir says India begged for ceasefire and Trump intervention
Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir has landed in a soup after falsely boasting at a diaspora event in Belgium that India was 'forced to beg for a ceasefire' during the recent India–Pakistan conflict and that US President Donald Trump had to step in to mediate. Asim Munir has made several false claims about the recent India-Pakistan conflict while addressing gatherings in the US. The claims are in sharp contrast to the facts that Indian government presented after Operation Sindoor. The ceasefire between the two neighbours was achieved after DGMO-level talks and the United States did not mediate. Fact is that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at 9.38 am on May 10 saying that Pakistanis were asking for a ceasefire. This was after India took down Nur Khan air base with BrahMos and SCALP missiles. After hearing Secretary Rubio, Jaishankar made it clear that ceasefire proposal had to come from Pak DGMO through established channel if Rawalpindi was serious about it. Munir's remarks were made on August 11 at a closed-door felicitation organised by the Overseas Pakistani Foundation at Groot-Bijgarden Castle near Brussels which was attended by around 500 members of the Pakistani community from across Europe. Invitees were barred from carrying mobile phones or recording devices. According to those present, Munir used his 40-minute address to falsely claim that Pakistan had given a 'befitting reply' to India, shooting down 'advanced Indian aircraft' and earning new global respect. He further alleged that India had long peddled false victimhood over terrorism while 'discreetly supporting trans-border terror' in Pakistan, Canada and the US - charges New Delhi has consistently dismissed as baseless. Munir said the international community 'only respects power' and declared that India had no choice but to request a ceasefire, forcing Trump to intervene. Munir's bluffs This isn't the first time Munir has bluffed about the India-Pakistan conflict. He made several hollow threats during his visit to Washington last week. Addressing the Pakistani diaspora in Tampa, Florida, Munir reportedly warned that Pakistan would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons if its survival were at stake. 'We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us,' media reports quoted him as saying. India's sharp rebuttal Indian officials dismissed these remarks as part of a familiar Pakistani playbook - aggressive rhetoric whenever the country's military enjoys Western backing. 'It is a symptom that democracy does not exist in Pakistan and it is their military which controls the country,' one source said, suggesting Munir could be eyeing a future political role despite his denials. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also called Munir's claims 'nuclear sabre-rattling' and evidence of Pakistan's recklessness. 'Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade,' the MEA said in a statement last week. 'The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups,' the ministry added.