ISRO LAUNCHES BRAZILIAN SATELLITE, 18 OTHERS

In the first dedicated mission of its commercial arm New Space India Limited (NSIL), the Indian Space Research Organisation on Sunday successfully launched Brazil's earth observation satellite Amazonia-1 and 18 other co-passengers, including five built by students, onboard a Polar rocket from the spaceport in Sriharikota.

The satellites were placed in precise orbits one after another after the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C51 lifted off at 10.24 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), in the first mission this year for the ISRO.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO on the success of the first dedicated commercial launch mission of PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1, saying it ushers in a new era of space reforms in the country.

The co-passengers included Satish Dhawan Satellite (SD-SAT) nano satellite from Chennai-based Space Kidz India (SKI) which is engraved with a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also carried Bhagavad Gita in a Secured Digital card format.

Of the five built by students, the SD-SAT is intended to study radiation levels among others, while UNITYsat, a three- in-one satellite by universities, is for providing radio relay service and SindhuNetra (more about it below), to be used for identifying suspicious ships through satellite imaging, officials said.

Amazonia-1, a fully Brazil built satellite with a mission life of four years, is intended for providing remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.

Earlier, at the end of the 25.5 hour countdown, the four-stage 44.4 metre tall PSLV, a workhorse launch vehicle of ISRO in its 53rd mission, soared into clear a sky at the scheduled time of 10.24 am from the first launch pad in Sriharikota, over 100 km from Chennai.

"After a flight of about 17 minutes, the vehicle injected the Amazonia-1 into its intended orbit and in the succeeding 1 hour 38 minutes, all 18 co-passenger satellites successfully separated from the PSLV in a pre-determined sequence," the ISRO said.

Sunday's launch also marked the 78th mission from Sriharikota and with this the number of foreign satellites launched by ISRO has risen to 342 from 34 countries.

RAHUL SAYS MODI A 'FORMIDABLE ENEMY', VOWS TO DEFEAT HIM

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi a 'formidable enemy' who 'crushed' his opponents and vowed to send him to political oblivion by following the path of love and non-violence.

During an interaction titled 'Educators Meet' at the St Xavier College in Tirunelveli, Gandhi, touring southern Tamil Nadu for the second day as part of his second leg of campaign for the April 6 assembly polls, also said he counted on the people's support to defeat the BJP.

When a participant wanted to know if Gandhi felt it was possible to nudge the Modi government to implement his 'good ideas' rather than waiting to assume power which seemed 'Utopian', he said it could be done with the 'powerful' and 'valuable' support of the people.

Continuing, he said, "Yes we are fighting a formidable enemy (Modi). We are fighting an enemy that is dominating the money in this country. We are fighting an enemy that is crushing its opponents.

"But we have done this before. We have defeated a much bigger enemy (British) than this new enemy that has come…….Who is Narendra Modi in comparison to the British empire? nobody. People of this country sent the British empire back and in the same way we will send Narendra Modi back to Nagpur,” he said.

Gandhi said this would be achieved without any hatred, anger or violence towards PM Modi or his party even if they may 'abuse' or unleash 'violence' against them.

The Congress leader, replying to another participant, alleged the BJP-led Centre claimed to 'represent Hinduism' in several ideas they espoused, but in reality it had nothing to do with that faith. Hinduism does not preach insulting, killing or beating up people, Gandhi asserted, alleging 'but they do it'.

PM MODI CALLS FOR 100-DAY DRIVE TO CLEAN WATER BODIES

Underlining the importance of collective responsibility towards water conservation, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday called for a 100-day campaign to clean all water bodies and prepare these for rainwater harvesting before the monsoon season begins.

In his monthly “Mann Ki Baat” broadcast, Modi said the Jal Shakti Ministry was also launching a “catch the rain” campaign. “This is the best time to think about water conservation in view of the summer months ahead,” Modi said.

Citing examples of indigenous fighter jets, tanks and missiles, the PM said: “Our heads are held high when we see made in India coaches in metro trains in advanced nations or India-made Covid vaccines reaching other countries.” “And it is not that only bigger things will make India self-reliant. Textiles, handicraft goods, electronic appliances, mobiles…in every field we have to increase our presence. When we move forward with this thought, only then will we become self-reliant in the truest sense,” he said.

NITISH STANDS AGAINST POPULATION CONTROL LAW, AND FOR CASTE BASED CENSUS

At a time when the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre is toying with the idea of a population control law, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Bihar ally, the Janata Dal-United, has publicly expressed that it is against such a move.

The difference between them over the population control law also reveals that all is not well within the National Democratic Alliance in Bihar.

Janata Dal-United National President R C P Singh, considered a confidant of Chief Minister Kumar, has said a law for population control will not solve the problem it is meant to address. 'Population control is good, everyone wants it, but in its name a community should not be targeted,' Singh added. 'By blaming a community for the growing population, some people are trying to create a false notion among the majority community,' the JD-U leader said, leaving no one in doubt as to what he meant.

Only two days ago, BJP legislator Hari Bhusan Thakur blamed Muslims for the country's growing population. 'Muslims want to convert India into an Islamic State,' Thakur charged, in response to Nitish Kumar's claim that the fertility rate in Bihar had declined tremendously.

On Wednesday, Bihar Minister and senior BJP leader Neeraj Singh Bablu urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass a law to check population growth. 'I urge the prime minister to execute this. It would be for the country's benefit,' Bablu said.

A few days ago, Nitish Kumar demanded a caste-based census saying that the last such census was conducted in 1931 -- which goes against the BJP's stand on the issue.

In the past RJD chief Lalu Prasad was vocal in demanding a caste-based census, and in recent months his younger son Tejashwi Yadav, the state's leader of the Opposition in the assembly, gain raised the demand.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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EUROPEAN UNION CONDEMNS MYANMAR CRACKDOWN, CONFIRMS SANCTIONS

European Union diplomatic chief Josep Borrell on Sunday condemned a military crackdown in Myanmar and confirmed the bloc would adopt sanctions in response.

“Violence will not give legitimacy to the illegal over-throwing of the democratically-elected government” in Myanmar, Borrell said in a statement.

“In shooting against unarmed citizens, the security forces have shown a blatant disregard for international law, and must be held to account.”

The UN rights office said at least 18 people were killed, several wounded and hundreds arrested Sunday when security forces dispersed pro-democracy demonstrations in Myanmar.

It marks the bloodiest action so far to smother opposition to the country’s military coup four weeks ago.

The sanctions are expected to be finalised in the coming days and will take effect once an official notice has been published by the EU.

TRUMP REPEATS ELECTION LIE, DECLARES HIMSELF FUTURE OF GOP

Former President Donald Trump on Sunday hinted at a possible run for president again in 2024, attacked President Joe Biden, and repeated his fraudulent claims that he won the 2020 election in his first major appearance since leaving the White House nearly six weeks ago.

"Our movement of proud, hard-working American patriots is just getting started, and in the end we will win. We will win," Trump said in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida.

"They just lost the White House," the Republican former president said after criticizing President Biden's handling of border security. "But who knows, who knows, I may even decide to beat them for a third time."

Trump declared the Republican Party is united and said he had no plans to try to launch a third party, an idea he has discussed with advisers in the last couple of months.

"We’re not starting new parties. We have the Republican Party. It's going to be united and be stronger than ever before. I am not starting a new party," he said.

THE REST

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NEXT ROUND OF VACCINATION BEGINS TODAY: PM MODI TAKES FIRST DOSE

For the first time since India began its vaccination programme against Covid-19 on January 16, the general population will be eligible for the vaccine when the next phase begins today — for those above 60 years of age and those above 45 with co-morbidities.

Ahead of the Monday rollout of phase 2 of the vaccination drive, the government on Sunday spelled out to states detailed operational guidelines on the inoculation drive.

While underlining that it will continue to procure all the vaccines to be administered at both government and private facilities, the Centre has, in its communication to states, said that it will supply Covishield and Covaxin. However, the vaccine type will not be disclosed to the beneficiary at the time of appointment.

The Centre has also told states that one mobile number can be used to register as many as four

Beneficiaries can register through Co-WIN or Aarogya Setu, and beneficiaries can edit or delete records of registration and appointment until the time of vaccination.

The Centre has further said that at the time of appointment for the first dose, the second dose will be scheduled for the 29th day. However, the beneficiary will have the option of changing the slot for the second dose between the 29th day and 42nd day of receiving the first dose.

The Centre has said that districts will have to pre-register Covid Vaccination Centres (CVC) on the Co-WIN portal before the registration is opened to citizens. For this phase, around 10,000 private hospitals under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY and more than 600 private hospitals under the Central Government Health Scheme will be utilised as vaccination centres.

According to the official health ministry data, a total of 1,43,01,266 vaccine doses have been administered so far under the first phase of vaccination to healthcare and frontline workers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took his first dose of the vaccine at AIIMS in New Delhi and appealed to all those who are eligible to get inoculated.

Took my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS. Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19," Modi tweeted after taking the vaccine shot.

"I appeal to all those who are eligible to take the vaccine. Together, let us make India COVID-19 free!" he said.

APPRECIATE PM FOR BEING ROOTED: DISSENTER GHULAM NABI AZAD

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said he likes leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi who are proud of their roots and noted that Modi speaks frankly about his past as a tea-seller.

Addressing a function by Gujjar Desh Charitable Trust in Jammu, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said a person should not try to hide his background from the world.

"I admire several things about a number of leaders... I am from a village and I am proud of it. A big leader, our prime minister, says he is from a village, he used to sell tea.

"We may have political differences, but at least he doesn't hide his reality," Azad said.

Modi had recently profusely praised Azad, who was the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, during the Congress MP's farewell in the Upper House.

Azad's remarks come a day after he and other 'G-23' dissident leaders, who have been pressing for a leadership change and organisational overhaul in the Congress, gathered on one stage at an event in Jammu and said the party is weakening.

BENGAL CLERIC PUTS PRESSURE ON ALLIANCE PARTNER CONGRESSS; AND SUPRIYO’S MEME

A semblance of friction within the Left Front-Congress-Indian Secular Front (ISF) poll alliance in Bengal played out in the open on Sunday when Furfura Sharif cleric Abbas Siddiqui pledged his support to Left candidates across the state, but stopped short of doing the same for Congress. The message from the ISF patron at the alliance’s first rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Grounds was that his party would strictly act on a quid pro quo basis.

“We want bhagidari (our share) in electoral politics. I would like to thank the Left Front for sacrificing their own seats to give us 30. We will support the Left across the state and ensure they win, along with our own candidates, defeating both BJP and its B-team, Trinamool,” Siddiqui said at the rally.

His remarks are being seen as part of a strategy to pressure Congress to yield some ground in seat-sharing with ISF before talks begin on Monday.

Meanwhile, TMC poll campaign, ‘ Bangla nijer meyekei chay(Bengal wants its own daughter)’ has sparked a social media war. Facing protests from TMC, minister Babul Supriyo deleted a meme he had shared on Twitter, which had an image of Amit Shah, that read “ Beti paraya dhan hoti hai, is baar vida kar denge(A daughter is someone else’s wealth, this time we will send her off)”.

Neither did I create this nor is this a statement of mine... ,” Supriyo said later.

ARVIND KEJRIWAL BLAMES BJP, GOVT FOR RED FORT INCIDENT ON JAN 26

Alleging that the incident of raising a religious flag on Red Fort during the protesting farmers’ tractor rally through Delhi on January 26 was orchestrated by the BJP-led Union government, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that the “ones who raised the flag (on Red Fort) were their (BJP’s) own karyakartas”.

Addressing a kisan panchayat in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut, , Kejriwal said. “Laal kile ka pura kaand inhone karwaya (they orchestrated the whole incident at Red Fort). I am the CM of Delhi and people from all states – UP, Haryana, Punjab – come to me. They all told me that they (BJP) were giving directions to the people, asking them to go here or there, since they (protesters) didn’t know the roads (of Delhi). The ones who raised the flag (on Red Fort) were their own karyakartas.”

Accusing the Centre of falsely prosecuting farmers, he said, “Our farmers can be anything, our farmers can die. But they will not be traitors.”

‘YOU WERE ON LEAVE’, SHAH TAUNTS RAHUL ON FISHERIES ROW

Hitting the campaign trail in Puducherry’s Karaikal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday taunted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the latter’s remarks last week about the need for a separate fisheries ministry to care for fish farmers of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala.

“Rahul asked here some days ago why the BJP government and Modi ji have not created a separate department for fisheries. The fact is PM Modi has already created a fisheries department. Rahul bhaiyaa (brother) you were on leave and so you are not aware,” Shah said, canvassing for the BJP in Puducherry where the Congress government fell last week, leading to the imposition of President’s rule.

“The party whose leader has been in the Lok Sabha for four terms does not know a fisheries department started two years ago. Can such a party care for the welfare of the state?” Shah asked people of the state.

DRDO'S 'SINDHU NETRA' TO KEEP AN EYE ON IOR

In a boost for the country's surveillance capabilities to monitor activities of both military warships and merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the 'Sindhu Netra' satellite developed by a team of young scientists from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully deployed in space on Sunday.

The 'Sindhu Netra' satellite has been developed by the young scientists of the DRDO and is capable of automatically identifying the warships and merchant ships operating in the IOR.

The satellite, if required, can also help in carrying out surveillance in specific areas such as the South China Sea or the pirate-infested areas near the Gulf of Aden and the African coast.

Sindhu Netra is said to be one of the first in the series of satellites that would help the nation in enhancing its surveillance capabilities.

RS 2,100 CR COLLECTED FOR RAM TEMPLE

The 44-day fund-raising campaign for the Ayodhya’s Ram Temple construction came to an end on Saturday. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra treasurer Govind Dev Giri said over Rs 2,100 crore was collected during the campaign. On January 15, the trust had projected Rs 1,100-crore estimate for the temple complex, but it received more than Rs 1,000 crore over that amount.

SPECTRUM AUCTIONS TO START TODAY, FIRST TIME IN 5 YEARS

The government will begin the auction of mobile telecom airwaves for the first time in five years from Monday as around 2,250MHz of spectrum — worth nearly Rs 4 lakh crore at just the reserve price — will be sold across various bands. The designated 5G sale will happen later.

The auctions will enable companies such as Airtel, Vodafone Idea and market leader Reliance Jio to augment their telecom holdings.

On its part, the government had tried to add some excitement to the sale by allowing companies to make changes to technology advancements and upgrades with a notice of only six months, thus enabling them to launch 5G services (with limited capabilities) on the existing airwaves. This would mean that companies which top up sufficient amount of airwaves can launch 5G services even prior to the sale of the specialised spectrum earmarked for the high-speed mobile services.

Many analysts have raised doubts about the sale in the 700MHz band, which they say remains expensive (it remained unsold in the previous round in 2016).

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

He who does not enjoy solitude will not love freedom. - Arthur Schopenhauer

OFF TRACK

Little Nancy was in the garden filling in a hole when her neighbor peered over the fence. Interested in what the cheeky-faced youngster was up to, he politely asked, "What are you doing there, Nancy?"

"My goldfish died," replied Nancy tearfully without looking up, "and I've just buried him."

The neighbour was very concerned. "That's an awfully big hole for a goldfish, isn't it?"

Nancy patted down the last heap of dirt then replied, "That's because he's inside your cat."