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LCA) is likely to be ready for delivery by next month and work on an even more capable version is underway, with production likely to commence by 2027, senior defence officials have told ET. The LCA Mk1A, which was cleared for procurement by the Centre in 2021, will add the much-needed numbers to the fighter jet strength of the Air Force and is much more capable than the earlier version, as it is equipped with new age radars, electronic warfare systems and mid-air refuelling features. Officials said that the project is on track to meet the deadlines and the first of the 83 LCA Mk1A jets on order is likely to be ready by next month. By August this year, at least four of the jets are likely to be delivered. Production could taper down next year as there have been some delays in deliveries of engines for the jets but efforts are being made to minimise the gap.

India’s 18th Lok Sabha elections will be held in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024-25. One of the major campaign planks that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has adopted is the aspiration of a “viksit" or developed India by 2047. A developed country is widely understood as one that is industrialized, has a high Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, scores well on human development indicators and has institutions of quality.

If India wants to build a robust computer and electronics manufacturing industry, it needs to shift focus, fast. Instead of concentrating on its domestic market, it should become regionally competitive and export-driven. That would mean recognizing that Vietnam, not China, is its biggest rival.

Governor Eli Remolona of the Philippines Central Bank (BSP) has disclosed the central bank’s plans to introduce a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the coming years.

India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA) and the India SME Forum- have supported the continuation of prohibition of imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions at the World Trade Organization (WTO), citing it to be important for supply chain resilience post Covid. The two industry bodies made this submission to the global trade watchdog as part of a consortium of around 170 global associations. The submission comes amid India and South Africa pushing hard for the prohibition to end as it leads to revenue loss and are keen on an outcome on the issue before the WTO's 13th ministerial conference (MC13) later this month. The moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions is in place since 1998. Around 105 countries, including the US, the UK, Australia, China, and Japan favour this prohibition. «Continuation of the moratorium is also important to supply chain resilience for manufacturing and services industries,» the associations said.

PM Modi will inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi on February 14. "The inauguration programme of BAPS temple is one of the key parts of PM Modi's UAE visit...," Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Monday. Besides this, the Prime Minister will also address the Indian community in the UAE at an event in Zayed Sports city in Abu Dhabi.

Saurabh Tiwary has decided to retire from professional cricket after Jharkhand's final league match of the Ranji Trophy against Rajasthan in Jamshedpur from February 16. In a career spanning 17 years, Tiwary represented Jharkhand and played three ODIs for India and turned up for four IPL franchises. «It's a little tough to bid farewell to this journey that I had started before my schooling,» the 34-year-old was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. «But I'm also sure that this is the right time for this. I feel that if you're not in the national team and IPL, it's better to vacate a spot in the state side for a youngster. Youngsters are getting a lot of chances in our Test team so I'm making this decision.»

Tata Motors and MG Motor India that are reporting high demand for electric cars from this tiny southern state that accounts for only about 4% of all passenger vehicles sold in India. Kerala has emerged a frontrunner in adoption of the technology, trailing only Maharashtra in lapping up electric cars like Tata Tiago EV to MG Comet, launched at affordable price points in the mass market in the past 12-18 months. It is followed by Karnataka and Gujarat. Together, the three states accounted for about 35% of the 82,000-odd electric cars sold in the country in CY2023. Greater consumer awareness, lower cost of operations and wider spread of charging infrastructure have been driving up sales in these states, senior industry executives told ET.

India's edible oil imports in January declined by 28% year-on-year, largely because of carry-over stock from the previous year, according to the Solvent Extractors' Association (SEA). Increase in international prices of palm oil and the upcoming harvest of mustard crop are some of the other reasons that led to cut in the country’s cooking oil imports. According to SEA, import of cooking oil in January 2024--reported at little more than 12 lakh tonnes--is down by 28% compared with January 2023.

ALSO READ: 'Aaj main kis muh se inkaar karoon': RLD's Jayant Chaudhary on joining NDA When asked when would he "officially" join the NDA, Jayant Chaudhary evaded the question and said, "We are celebrating today.." He was speaking at the sidelines of an event to mark the birth anniversary of his father Ajit Singh. Speaking with the media on Monday, Jayant Chaudhary said, “… There was no big planning behind this decision, we had to take this decision within a short time because of the situation. We want to do something good for the people..." ALSO READ: Lok Sabha election 2024: After alliance with Nitish Kumar, what other pre-poll tie-ups BJP is looking at The RLD leader added that he is happy about Bharat Ratna being conferred to his grandfather Chaudhary Charan Singh.

Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy (SWRE) on Monday said it has placed orders with US-based Nextracker for supply of solar trackers for projects in Gujarat. SWRE is implementing solar projects at NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd's (NTPCREL) solar park in Khavda, Rann of Kutch, a company statement said. «Nextracker has been selected for repeat order. Nextracker was selected to supply its flagship solar trackers for phase two (1.5 GW) and phase three (375 MW) solar projects at NTPCREL's solar park,» SWRE said. With this order, SWRE and Nextracker have surpassed over 5 gigawatts of collaborative solar power generation projects globally.

Kant suggested focusing on developing five key states as tourism hubs and leveraging private sector expertise to unlock the country's potential in this multi-billion dollar market, particularly in the MICE (meeting, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) segment where India currently has a minimal share."There is a need for a dynamic and digital version of the 'Incredible India' campaign which should penetrate every single market. This is critical because foreign tourists are critical for India. About eleven states have given tourism an industry status, but many have not extended the benefits.

Thaawarchand Gehlot said on Monday. “It is a global record that more than 5 crore people of the State will be promoted to middle class status by this one decision of my government,” the governor told the joint session of the state’s legislature. He was referring to the five campaign pledges the Congress made ahead of the May 2023 assembly polls, which helped the party unseat the BJP regime.

Shirdi, which could result in a surge in ridership as a result. This announcement was made during his participation in the inauguration of the refurbished Mela Bus terminus of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) in Nashik. Originally, the Nashik-Pune semi-high-speed rail project intended to traverse Nashik-Sangamner-Pune, spanning a distance of 235 km, with an estimated cost of Rs 16,000 crore. The Nashik-Pune semi-high-speed rail project is being implemented by Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, a joint venture between the Government of Maharashtra and the Ministry of Railways. The alteration in the route to include Shirdi adds an additional 30 km to the Nashik-Pune route. Fadnavis explained that discussions with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed that the initial route would escalate project costs substantially due to extensive tunneling requirements, a challenge alleviated by the new route.

By Rachna Uppal and Federico Maccioni

fund to finance the development of sophisticated technology in developing nations. The fund was launched with capital of $200 million, financed by the Abu Dhabi government, and will be overseen by the Gulf state's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), the council said.

By Aditya Kalra and Munsif Vengattil

By Sudarshan Varadhan

AFP. The United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc, are among the countries that will benefit from this visa waiver.

By Giulio Piovaccari and Nick Carey

British financial technology company Revolut is launching phone plans in the U.K., the company has told CNBC exclusively, making it the first financial services firm in the country to offer telecom plans — and among the first globally.