INDIA RECALLS SACRIFICE OF KARGIL BRAVEHEARTS ON VIJAY DIWAS

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday led the nation in paying tributes to the armed forces personnel who fought valiantly in extremely harsh conditions to defend the country's territory during the Kargil conflict.

On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army announced the successful culmination of "Operation Vijay", declaring victory after a nearly three-month-long battle on the icy heights of Kargil in Ladakh.

The day is observed as 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' to commemorate India's victory over Pakistan in the war.

"Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of extraordinary bravery, valour and determination of our armed forces. I bow to all the brave soldiers who laid down their lives to protect Mother India. The country will always be indebted to them and their family members. Jai Hind," Murmu said in a tweet in Hindi.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Modi said Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of pride and glory for the country. "Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of pride and glory of 'Maa Bharati'. On this occasion, I salute all the brave sons of the country who achieved the height of valour in the defence of the motherland. Jai Hind," he said.

To mark the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the three service chiefs laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in memory of the fallen heroes.

19 OPPOSITION MPS SUSPENDED FROM RAJYA SABHA FOR ENTIRE WEEK

Nineteen opposition MPs were suspended on Tuesday from attending the Rajya Sabha for the entire week. They had disrupted the House proceedings.

The opposition MPs, who have been stalling the proceedings since the start of the monsoon session on July 18 over price rise and the levy of the GST on daily essentials, were suspended for not heeding to Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh's repeated pleas to leave the Well of the House and go back to their seats.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan moved a motion to suspend 10 MPs, but when it was adopted by a voice vote, Singh read out the names of 19 members.

While seven of the suspended MPs belonged to the TMC, six were from the DMK, three from the TRS, two from the CPI(M) and one from the CPI.

Harivansh Singh said the MPs were suspended for showing "utter disregard" to the House and the authority of the Chair.

INDIA SLAMS MOVE BY PAKISTAN, CHINA TO INVOLVE THIRD COUNTRIES IN CPEC PROJECTS

India on Tuesday slammed China and Pakistan for their efforts to encourage third countries to join projects relating to their multi-billion dollar connectivity corridor that passes through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. In a sharp reaction, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said such activities under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are "inherently illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable", and would be treated accordingly by India.

At a meeting of the CPEC Joint Working Group (JWG) on International Cooperation and Coordination on Friday, Pakistan and China decided to welcome interested third countries to join the flagship CPEC initiative.

"We have seen reports on encouraging proposed participation of third countries in so-called CPEC projects. Any such actions by any party directly infringe on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Bagchi said. "India firmly and consistently opposes projects in the so-called CPEC, which are in Indian territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan," he said. "Such activities are inherently illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable, and will be treated accordingly by India," he added.

RAHUL GANDHI, OTHER TOP CONGRESS LEADERS DETAINED OVER DHARNA

Delhi Police on Tuesday detained Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with 17 of his party colleagues, after they sat on a dharna and staged a protest march towards Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit a memorandum.

Just before he was detained on a road near Vijay Chowk here, Gandhi said, “India has turned into a police state and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is behaving like a king.”

Gandhi earlier sat on the road while staging the protest. The police personnel had a tough time convincing him to vacate the place since it is a high-security zone and Section 144 was in place.

When Rahul Gandhi did not heed to their persuasion, he was whisked away in a police van.

Congress leader Mukul Wasnik termed the police action as “dictatorial attitude of the government”. He said, “The government is not allowing any discussion in Parliament on pressing issues of price rise, hike in GST, rising unemployment and others concerning people. We wanted to convey all these to the President.”

‘BIG BROTHER’ ALWAYS LISTENING TO POLITICIANS’ PHONE CALLS: MARGARET ALVA

Opposition Vice Presidential candidate Margaret Alva has alleged that politicians' calls are being monitored by the "Big Brother", in an apparent reference to the government.

"The fear that 'Big Brother' is always watching and listening permeates all conversations between politicians across party lines in 'new' India. MPs and leaders of parties carry multiple phones, frequently change numbers and talk in hushed whispers when they meet. Fear kills democracy," she said in a tweet.

On Monday night, she tweeted addressing the two government-owned telecom companies. "Dear BSNL/ MTNL, after speaking to some friends in the BJP today, all calls to my mobile are being diverted and I'm unable to make or receive calls. If you restore the phone, I promise not to call any MP from the BJP, TMC or BJD tonight," she wrote.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / July 26

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Monday  14,830

Active Cases 1,47,512 (-3,365)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,26,110 (29)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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IMRAN KHAN'S 'COMEBACK' OF SORTS IN PAK PUNJAB

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down Punjab Assembly deputy speaker's controversial decision to reject 10 votes during the chief minister's election as unconstitutional and named PML-Q leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi as the new executive head of the politically crucial province, in a major setback to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the ruling coalition.

Elahi, who lost the election held on Friday despite getting a majority vote, challenged the ruling of deputy speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari who handed victory to Hamza, son of Prime Minister Sharif. Elahi was supported by ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

A three-member bench, which heard the case, ruled that 76-year-old Elahi is the new chief minister of Punjab province, in a boost to Khan's political fortune after he was ousted in a non-confidence vote in Parliament in April.

EUROPE AGREES TO CUT GAS USE TO BLUNT MOSCOW’S LEVERAGE

European Union countries bracing for further cuts in Russian gas supply approved aweakened emergency plan to curb demand on Tuesday after striking compromise deals to limit the reductions for some countries. Europe faces an increased gas squeeze from Wednesday, when Russian’s Gazprom has said it would cut flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany to a fifth of capacity. With a dozen EU countries already facing lower Russian supplies, Brussels is urging member states to save gas and store it for winter for fear Russia will completely cut off flows in retaliation for Western sanctions over its war with Ukraine.

Energy ministers approved  a proposal for all EU countries to voluntarily cut gas use by 15% in the August to March period from the average from 2017-2021. The cuts could be made binding in a supply emergency, provided a majority of EU countries agree to this. But countries agreed to exempt numerous countries and industries from the binding 15% cut, after some governments opposed the EU’s original proposal to apply it to every country. German economy minister Robert Habeck said the agreement would show Russian President Putin that Europe remained united in the face of Moscow’s latest gas cuts.

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INDIA GOES SHOPPING FOR SWARM DRONES, CARBINES, BULLETPROOF JACKETS

The defence ministry on Tuesday approved the procurement of military equipment and weapons worth Rs 28,000 crore, including swarm drones and close-quarter battle carbines, to bolster the overall combat prowess of the armed forces along the northern and western borders.

The ministry said the approval to procure four lakh close-quarter battle carbines was granted to combat the "current complex paradigm of conventional and hybrid warfare" and terrorism at the borders.

The ministry said the decision is set to provide a major impetus to the small arms manufacturing industry in the country and enhance Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in small arms.

"Considering the demand for enhanced protection against the threat of enemy snipers to our troops deployed along the Line of Control, and in close combat operations in counter-terrorism scenario, the DAC accorded AoN for bulletproof jackets with Indian Standard BIS VI level of protection," it said.

On the procurement of the armed swarm drones, the ministry said these are being acquired as drone technology has proved to be a force multiplier in military operations.

DEATH TOLL IN GUJARAT HOOCH TRAGEDY CLIMBS TO 28

The death toll due to the consumption of spurious liquor in Gujarat's Botad district has gone up to 28, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

A primary investigation has revealed that some small-time bootleggers from different villages in Botad had made the spurious liquor by mixing water with methyl alcohol (methanol), which is highly poisonous, and sold it to villagers for Rs 20 per pouch, as per a FIR registered in the incident. Three FIRs have been registered against 14 main culprits.

GOVT EYES GUINNESS RECORD WITH ‘HAR GHAR TIRANGA’

The government on Tuesday issued a circular saying spending by companies for ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, including on mass-scale production, procurement, supply of the National Flag, outreach and related activities, would qualify as Corporate Social Responsibility activities under the Companies Act 2013.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs issued a circular to promote private entities to participate in the campaign. CSR spending is eligible for tax exemptions under law.

Starting August 1, all 1.6 lakh post offices in India will facilitate the sale of the Tricolour with the government aiming for at least 20 crore, nearly 65 per cent of Indian households, to hoist the National Flag on their residential premises between August 13 and 15 under the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign.

Private flag hoisting by citizens is a major part of the Government's push for a Guinness World Records for the ongoing Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.

ON HUNGER STRIKE, YASIN MALIK PUT ON IV FLUIDS IN TIHAR JAIL

Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who is on a hunger strike in Tihar jail in New Delhi for five days, is being given intravenous fluids and his health is being regularly monitored by doctors, officials said on Tuesday.

Malik began his indefinite hunger strike on Friday morning after the Centre did not respond to his plea that he be allowed to physically appear in a Jammu court hearing the Rubaiya Sayeed abduction case, in which he is an accused.

Malik, who was kept in solitary confinement, has been shifted to the prison's Medical Investigation room where doctors are constantly monitoring his health status and updating officials about the same.

The JKLF chief is serving a life sentence in a terror-funding case.

ED QUESTIONS SONIA GANDHI FOR OVER 6 HOURS, TO APPEAR AGAIN TODAY

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday questioned Congress president Sonia Gandhi for over six hours on the second day of her appearance in a money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper, officials said.

Officials said she has been asked to appear again on Wednesday.

HIGH COURT REJECTS ASHISH MISHRA'S BAIL PLEA IN LAKHIMPUR KHERI VIOLENCE CASE

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of Ashish Mishra, son of Union minister Ajay Mishra, in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case of October last year, which had left four farmers dead.

The Justice Krishna Pahal bench said Ashish is politically influential and could influence the witnesses and affect the trial.

SC DEALING WITH PIL AGAINST IRRATIONAL FREEBIES

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to seek the Finance Commission’s view on a petition seeking to stop political parties from offering freebies to influence voters after the Election Commission expressed its inability to regulate it.

While hearing a PIL filed by Delhi BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking to stop this poll-eve practice, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana termed it a serious issue and asked Additional Solicitor General KM Natraj to seek the Finance Commission’s opinion.

“Why don’t you say that you have nothing to do with it and the Election Commission has to take a call? I am asking whether the Government of India is considering it a serious issue or not? Why are you hesitating to take a stand? You take a stand and then we will decide whether these freebies are to be continued or not,” the Bench told Natraj.

The Bench posted the matter for further hearing on August 3.

5G SPECTRUM AUCTION: RS 1.45 LAKH CRORE BIDS ON DAY 1

India’s largest ever auction of spectrum used to carry mobile signals saw bids of Rs 1.45 lakh crore for 5G airwaves from groups run by tycoons Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Bharti Mittal and Gautam Adani on the first day on Tuesday.

All four applicants — Ambani’s Reliance Jio, Mittal’s Bharti Airtel, Vodafone-Idea and an Adani group firm “actively” participated in the auction of 5G spectrum, that offers ultra-high speeds (about 10 times faster than 4G), lag-free connectivity, and can enable billions of connected devices to share data in real-time.

The government received bids worth over Rs 1.45 lakh crore on the first day of bidding, exceeding all expectations and surpassing 2015 records, he said. As per the process, it will not be known until the close which company bagged how much of airwaves.

The target is to allocate the spectrum by August 14.

In addition to powering ultra-low latency connections, which allow downloading full-length high-quality video or movie to a mobile device in a matter of seconds (even in crowded areas), fifth generation or 5G would enable solutions such as e-health, connected vehicles, more immersive augmented reality and metaverse experiences, life-saving use cases, and advanced mobile cloud gaming among others.

The auction will continue on Wednesday.

ONLY 11% OF 69 CRORE ELIGIBLE PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN COVID PRECAUTION DOSE

Four months after precaution doses of the Covid vaccine were opened to all adults, and a few weeks after the minimum gap between the second and third doses was reduced to 6 months from 9, the low uptake of the third shot is causing furrowed brows in the Union government.

Government officials say about 69 crore people in the country are currently eligible for the third dose of the vaccine. Of these, they add, just about 7.58 crore people (approx. 11 per cent) have taken the third dose, for which only adults are eligible so far.

Government officials blame the low uptake not on vaccine hesitancy, but a weakening fear of Covid, which they say bodes ill as the disease is still on the prowl.

“There are approximately 4 crore people in the country who have not even taken the first dose of the vaccine. There are about 7 crore people who have not taken the second dose even after taking the first dose,” said a senior central government official.

15 COMPANIES HAVE WITHDRAWN ADs FOUND ‘MISLEADING’: CCPA

Fifteen companies withdrew their advertisements after the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) found them “misleading”, CCPA Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference, Khare said that the companies which withdrew their misleading ads included Siyaram Silks, Lifebuoy, Kent Ro, Asian Paints, Blue Star, Zodiac, Safal Hospitality and Maintenance Services, Berger Paints India Limited, Blue Star Limited, AM Webshop India Pvt. Ltd (Spaces), Naaptol, Sure Vision India, Sensodyne and Bhanwar Rathore Designer Studio.

Besides, three companies agreed for corrective advertisement, Khare said.

Giving an overview of activities of the CCPA that completed two years on July 24, Khare said the CCPA so far has issued 129 notices, 71 for misleading, 49 for unfair trade practice, and 9 for violation of consumer rights.

FIR AGAINST RANVEER SINGH FOR AN ‘APPARENTLY’ NUDE PHOTO SHOOT

Based on a complaint by a Mumbai-based NGO, the Mumbai Police registered an FIR against actor Ranveer Singh yesterday for sharing photographs from an apparently nude photoshoot that he did with ‘Paper’ magazine.

Chembur police registered the FIR based on the statement of one Lalit Tekchandani (50), who has said that when he zoomed in on one of the photographs, he realized that the actor’s private parts were visible.

The photo had gone viral, Tekchandani has said. He has said that India is a land of culture, and such photos could influence children who have a “craze” for movie actors and actresses.

According to the complainant, upon inquiring, he had found that Ranveer had done the photoshoot for ‘Paper’ magazine, and would have earned a lot of money from it. He added that it would also influence youngsters struggling to get into the industry to resort to similar measures to earn money and fame.

NEERAJ CHOPRA PULLS OUT OF BIRMINGHAM CWG DUE TO GROIN STRAIN

In a huge setback for India, strong medal contender Neeraj Chopra on Tuesday pulled out of the upcoming Commonwealth Games due to a groin strain he developed during his historic silver medal-winning campaign at the recent World Championships.

The 24-year-old Olympic champion was to defend his men’s javelin throw title in Birmingham, where the Games are set to begin on Thursday.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You can never be happy unless you learn to love yourself. - Jeffrey Fry

OFF TRACK

A: Just look at that young person with the short hair and blue jeans. Is it a boy or a girl?

B: It's a girl. She's my daughter.

A: Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know that you were her father.

B: I'm not. I'm her mother.