<p>Eleven months after top Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an alleged liquor scam scandal, the party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is reportedly facing the threat of arrest after he failed to appear before India's Enforcement Directorate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>WION can, however, confirm that Kejriwal won't be arrested on January 4, 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ED had issued a summons to Kejriwal for questioning on January 3 in connection with an excise policy-linked money laundering case. This was the third time Kejriwal has refused to appear before the federal agency. The two earlier summonses were for November 2 and December 21. A fourth one has now been issued.</p>

<p>Kejriwal had sent a written reply to the ED, stating he was willing to cooperate but not when he doubted the&nbsp;intention behind the notice.</p>

<p>"Ready to cooperate in ED investigation but the agency's notice is illegal. Their intention is to arrest Arvind Kejriwal. They want to stop him from election campaign," news agency ANI quoted an AAP official as saying.</p>

<h2><strong>Manish Sisodia's arrest in February last year</strong></h2>

<p>The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested&nbsp;Sisodia on February 26, 2023, following eight hours of interrogation on the same day. CBI said the then Delhi deputy CM had provided evasive answers and had not cooperated with the inquiry. Sisodia was summoned by CBI agents on February 26&nbsp; for questioning.</p>

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<p>Together with MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, as well as MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj, the AAP leader spent around 15 minutes at Rajghat before going to be questioned, as reported by the Indian Express.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a message to party members and those gathered outside his residence, Sisodia said, “I might have to go to jail for about seven-eight months. I don’t fear going to jail, my only worry is for my wife, who is not doing well these days. You all have to take care of her.”</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CBI</a> produced <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a> Deputy Chief Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ManishSisodia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ManishSisodia</a> in Rouse Avenue Court. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Viralvideo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Viralvideo</a> <a href="https://t.co/bcyvhuaOeT">pic.twitter.com/bcyvhuaOeT</a></p>
— Reema (@_R_E_EM_A) <a href="https://twitter.com/_R_E_EM_A/status/1630168547233255426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>He had&nbsp;been interrogated to ascertain his involvement in the alleged corruption in the execution of the now-cancelled Delhi liquor strategy for 2021–2022. Soon after, he was arrested.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The agency explaining the arrest of the AAP leader said at the time, “The deputy chief minister was issued a notice u/s 41A CrPC for attending the investigation on 19.02.2023. However, he sought time of one week citing his pre-occupation. Accepting his request, he was issued a notice u/s 41A Cr. P.C for attending the investigation today (on 26.02.2023) for answering various questions evaded by him during his examination on 17.10.2022 and further questions relating to his incriminating role based on evidence collected during the investigation of the case.”</p>

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<p>“However, he gave evasive replies and did not cooperate with the investigation despite being confronted with evidence to the contrary. Therefore, he has been arrested,” it added.</p>

<p>Additionally, Sisodia's computer contained&nbsp;a number of liquor policy-related files that had been destroyed, as reported by NDTV.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The liquor excise case of 2021-22</strong></h2>

<p>The arrest of Sisodia has to do with the now-cancelled alcohol policy for 2021–2022. The new excise policy was implemented by the AAP administration in the Indian capital on November 17, 2021, and 849 liquor vends were given to private enterprises through open bidding.</p>

<p>A maximum of 27 vends were permitted in each of the 32 zones of the city. Individual licences were replaced by zone-by-zone bidding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The new policy, according to AAP, aimed to combat the liquor mafia and black marketing, boost sales and enhance customer satisfaction, and guarantee a fair distribution of liquor vends.</p>

<p>Further regulatory modifications were made by the Delhi government in May 2022, including authorising licensees to transport alcohol to customers' homes and keeping stores open until three in the morning, as per ANI reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-aap-supporters-take-to-the-streets-to-protest-against-delhi-deputy-cm-manish-sisodias-arrest-566308">&nbsp;India: AAP supporters take to the streets to protest against Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's arrest</a></p>

<p>However, Naresh Kumar, the chief secretary for Delhi, had to evaluate it before these modifications could be put into effect. Kumar called attention to "procedural lapses" and ambiguities in the policy.</p>

<p>In July 2022, he filed a report to Sisodia, the chief of the excise division, requesting clarification.</p>

<p>Kejriwal, the mayor of Delhi, and VK Saxena, the lieutenant governor, also received the report.</p>

<p>Kumar also made the Economic Offenses Wing aware of the suspected violations and requested that they look into the situation.</p>

<h2><strong>Naresh Kumar's allegations</strong></h2>

<p>As per Naresh Kumar's report, Sisodia gave unauthorised incentives to licensees of liquor vends in return for "kickbacks" and "commissions" that the party allegedly utilised to influence the Punjab Assembly elections in February 2022.</p>

<p>The Delhi chief secretary’s report further alleged that “Minister In-charge of the Excise Department, Manish Sisodia, took and got executed, major decisions/actions”, which were “in violation of the statutory provisions and the notified Excise Policy that had huge financial implications.”</p>

<p>In July 2023, the AAP administration dropped the new policy and went back to the previous one.</p>

<p>The CBI then filed an FIR in the matter on August 17, 2022 and conducted raids at 31 places, including Sisodia's Delhi home, on August 19 across seven states and two union territories.</p>

<p>AAP alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the federal government's ruling party,&nbsp;attempted to settle political scores. AAP denied all allegations of misconduct.</p>

<h2><strong>Road ahead for AAP</strong></h2>

<p>The arrest of Sisodia does not augur well for the AAP, the Kejriwal administration, or the Delhi ruling party.</p>

<p>Sisodia oversaw 18 of the capital's 33 departments, including vital ones like housing, finance and education.</p>

<p>Sisodia's arrest follows that of Satyendar Jain, the previous health minister for Delhi, in June of last year. Both have significantly contributed to the party's popularity and ongoing electoral success by changing Delhi's educational and healthcare systems.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Eleven months after top Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an alleged liquor scam scandal, the party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is reportedly facing the threat of arrest after he failed to appear before India's Enforcement Directorate.

Eleven months after top Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an alleged liquor scam scandal, the party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is reportedly facing the threat of arrest after he failed to appear before India's Enforcement Directorate. WION can, however, confirm that Kejriwal won't be arrested on January 4, 2023. The ED had issued a summons to Kejriwal for questioning on January 3 in connection with an excise policy-linked money laundering case. This was the third time Kejriwal has refused to appear before the federal agency. The two earlier summonses were for November 2 and December 21. A fourth one has now been issued. Kejriwal had sent a written reply to the ED, stating he was willing to cooperate but not when he doubted the intention behind the notice. "Ready to cooperate in ED investigation but the agency's notice is illegal. Their intention is to arrest Arvind Kejriwal. They want to stop him from election campaign," news agency ANI quoted an AAP official as saying. Manish Sisodia's arrest in February last year The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Sisodia on February 26, 2023, following eight hours of interrogation on the same day. CBI said the then Delhi deputy CM had provided evasive answers and had not cooperated with the inquiry. Sisodia was summoned by CBI agents on February 26 for questioning. Together with MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, as well as MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj, the AAP leader spent around 15 minutes at Rajghat before going to be questioned, as reported by the Indian Express. In a message to party members and those gathered outside his residence, Sisodia said, “I might have to go to jail for about seven-eight months. I don’t fear going to jail, my only worry is for my wife, who is not doing well these days. You all have to take care of her.” Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. #CBI produced #Delhi Deputy Chief Minister #ManishSisodia in Rouse Avenue Court. #Viralvideo pic.twitter.com/bcyvhuaOeT — Reema (@_R_E_EM_A) February 27, 2023 × He had been interrogated to ascertain his involvement in the alleged corruption in the execution of the now-cancelled Delhi liquor strategy for 2021–2022. Soon after, he was arrested. The agency explaining the arrest of the AAP leader said at the time, “The deputy chief minister was issued a notice u/s 41A CrPC for attending the investigation on 19.02.2023. However, he sought time of one week citing his pre-occupation. Accepting his request, he was issued a notice u/s 41A Cr. P.C for attending the investigation today (on 26.02.2023) for answering various questions evaded by him during his examination on 17.10.2022 and further questions relating to his incriminating role based on evidence collected during the investigation of the case.” ALSO READ | Indian PM Narendra Modi to release 13th tranche of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme funds to farmers “However, he gave evasive replies and did not cooperate with the investigation despite being confronted with evidence to the contrary. Therefore, he has been arrested,” it added. Additionally, Sisodia's computer contained a number of liquor policy-related files that had been destroyed, as reported by NDTV. The liquor excise case of 2021-22 The arrest of Sisodia has to do with the now-cancelled alcohol policy for 2021–2022. The new excise policy was implemented by the AAP administration in the Indian capital on November 17, 2021, and 849 liquor vends were given to private enterprises through open bidding. A maximum of 27 vends were permitted in each of the 32 zones of the city. Individual licences were replaced by zone-by-zone bidding. The new policy, according to AAP, aimed to combat the liquor mafia and black marketing, boost sales and enhance customer satisfaction, and guarantee a fair distribution of liquor vends. Further regulatory modifications were made by the Delhi government in May 2022, including authorising licensees to transport alcohol to customers' homes and keeping stores open until three in the morning, as per ANI reports. ALSO READ | India: AAP supporters take to the streets to protest against Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's arrest However, Naresh Kumar, the chief secretary for Delhi, had to evaluate it before these modifications could be put into effect. Kumar called attention to "procedural lapses" and ambiguities in the policy. In July 2022, he filed a report to Sisodia, the chief of the excise division, requesting clarification. Kejriwal, the mayor of Delhi, and VK Saxena, the lieutenant governor, also received the report. Kumar also made the Economic Offenses Wing aware of the suspected violations and requested that they look into the situation. Naresh Kumar's allegations As per Naresh Kumar's report, Sisodia gave unauthorised incentives to licensees of liquor vends in return for "kickbacks" and "commissions" that the party allegedly utilised to influence the Punjab Assembly elections in February 2022. The Delhi chief secretary’s report further alleged that “Minister In-charge of the Excise Department, Manish Sisodia, took and got executed, major decisions/actions”, which were “in violation of the statutory provisions and the notified Excise Policy that had huge financial implications.” In July 2023, the AAP administration dropped the new policy and went back to the previous one. The CBI then filed an FIR in the matter on August 17, 2022 and conducted raids at 31 places, including Sisodia's Delhi home, on August 19 across seven states and two union territories. AAP alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the federal government's ruling party, attempted to settle political scores. AAP denied all allegations of misconduct. Road ahead for AAP The arrest of Sisodia does not augur well for the AAP, the Kejriwal administration, or the Delhi ruling party. Sisodia oversaw 18 of the capital's 33 departments, including vital ones like housing, finance and education. Sisodia's arrest follows that of Satyendar Jain, the previous health minister for Delhi, in June of last year. Both have significantly contributed to the party's popularity and ongoing electoral success by changing Delhi's educational and healthcare systems. (With inputs from agencies)

EXPLAINED | Why is Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal facing threat of arrest?

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India's anti-money laundering agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has refuted the claims by leaders of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in New Delhi that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to be arrested today. The agency says it is likely to issue a fourth summon to the Delhi CM in the liquor scam case.

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<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the "Ahlan Modi" mega diaspora event in Abu Dhabi on February 13. Translated as "welcome" in Arabic, the event is poised to be one of the largest gatherings of the Indian diaspora, with an estimated 50,000 attendees. At 3.3 million, the UAE is home to the largest number of Indian diaspora anywhere in the world.</p>

<p>This event comes just ahead of the inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Mandir on February 14, where Prime Minister Modi will officiate the ceremony. The foundation stone of the Hindu Mandir was laid on April 20, 2019. The history of this project traces back to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, during which the UAE Govt allocated the land for the Mandir.</p>

<p>Over the past years, India-UAE relations have seen remarkable growth, with both nations actively engaging in high-level visits and diplomatic exchanges. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is scheduled to visit India next week for the vibrant Gujarat investors summit, underscoring the significance of economic cooperation.</p>

<p>Since 2014, Prime Minister Modi has made six visits to the UAE, the most recent being in December for the Dubai climate change summit. These visits have played a pivotal role in elevating the bilateral relationship, with India-UAE trade reaching new heights. Currently valued at around US$ 73 billion, the trade volume has grown significantly from the modest US$ 180 million per annum in the 1970s.</p>

<p>India's exports to the UAE have surged, making it the second-largest export destination after the United States. Transactions have exceeded&nbsp;US$ 28 billion for the year 2021-22. Both nations signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022, further solidifying their economic collaboration.</p>

<p>The UAE has emerged as a substantial investor in India, contributing an estimated US$ 20-21 billion, with US$ 15.18 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This places the UAE as the 7th largest investor in India in terms of FDI, reflecting the confidence in India's economic potential.</p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the "Ahlan Modi" mega diaspora event in Abu Dhabi on February 13. Translated as "welcome" in Arabic, the event is poised to be one of the largest gatherings of the Indian diaspora, with an estimated 50,000 attendees.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the "Ahlan Modi" mega diaspora event in Abu Dhabi on February 13. Translated as "welcome" in Arabic, the event is poised to be one of the largest gatherings of the Indian diaspora, with an estimated 50,000 attendees. At 3.3 million, the UAE is home to the largest number of Indian diaspora anywhere in the world. This event comes just ahead of the inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Mandir on February 14, where Prime Minister Modi will officiate the ceremony. The foundation stone of the Hindu Mandir was laid on April 20, 2019. The history of this project traces back to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, during which the UAE Govt allocated the land for the Mandir. Over the past years, India-UAE relations have seen remarkable growth, with both nations actively engaging in high-level visits and diplomatic exchanges. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is scheduled to visit India next week for the vibrant Gujarat investors summit, underscoring the significance of economic cooperation. Since 2014, Prime Minister Modi has made six visits to the UAE, the most recent being in December for the Dubai climate change summit. These visits have played a pivotal role in elevating the bilateral relationship, with India-UAE trade reaching new heights. Currently valued at around US$ 73 billion, the trade volume has grown significantly from the modest US$ 180 million per annum in the 1970s. India's exports to the UAE have surged, making it the second-largest export destination after the United States. Transactions have exceeded US$ 28 billion for the year 2021-22. Both nations signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022, further solidifying their economic collaboration. The UAE has emerged as a substantial investor in India, contributing an estimated US$ 20-21 billion, with US$ 15.18 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This places the UAE as the 7th largest investor in India in terms of FDI, reflecting the confidence in India's economic potential.

'Ahlan Modi' mega diaspora event in UAE on February 13

AAP leaders claim party Chief Arvind Kejriwal could be arrested today, ED refutes claim | WION

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<p>A Namibian cheetah has given birth to three cubs at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in west Indian state of Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, a Union minister said on Wednesday (Jan 3).&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Purrs in the wild! Thrilled to share that Kuno National Park has welcomed three new members. The cubs have been born to Namibian Cheetah Aasha," Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said on social media platform X.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He termed the development "a roaring success for Project Cheetah, envisioned by PM Narendra Modi to restore ecological balance".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"My big congrats to all experts involved in the project, the Kuno wildlife officials, and wildlife enthusiasts across India," Yadav said in the post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also expressed happiness over the birth of the cubs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There was a time when cheetahs were extinct from Asia. Three cheetah cubs were born. This is a special event in the world. The birth of cubs shows that the cheetah project in Kuno National Park has been successful," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Madhya Pradesh has earned the status of being a ‘cheetah state’ under the guidance of PM Modi, the chief minister said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In March 2023, Siyaya, who was later renamed as Jwala, had given birth to four cubs, but only one of them survived. Jwala was also translocated to the KNP from Namibia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>KNP sources said it is likely &nbsp;these three cubs were born to Aasha about a week back.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The story of Aasha begins in Namibia six years ago when she was born near the Waterberg Plateau National Park in 2017. She was translocated to India on September 17, 2022 as part of the world’s first intercontinental carnivore translocation project and has now successfully given birth to three cubs in KNP," an official said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the birth of three cubs, the total number of cheetahs in the KNP has grown to 18.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Cheetah, the fastest land animal, was declared extinct in the country in 1952. The relocation of cheetahs from Africa is part of the government’s ambitious plan to revive their population in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Under the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, eight Namibian cheetahs – five female and three male – were released into enclosures at the KNP on September 17 in 2022. In February 2023, another 12 cheetahs were brought to the park from South Africa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since March 2023, six adult cheetahs have died in the KNP due to various reasons, taking the total death count of felines in the park, including three cubs, to nine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since August last year, all 15 cheetahs (seven male, seven female and one female cub) at the KNP were kept in bomas (enclosures) for the monitoring of their health parameters by Kuno’s team of veterinarians.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In December last year, four cheetahs were released into the wild, but two of them were later captured and shifted to bomas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One of these two cheetahs, Agni, was tranquilised in Baran district of Rajasthan and brought back to the KNP on December 25. So, 13 out of the 15 are currently in bomas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In May last year, while voicing concern over the death of felines, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to file a detailed affidavit explaining the reasons and remedial measures taken.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had told the Supreme Court that the death of adult cheetahs and cubs at KNP is troubling, but not "unduly alarming", and the surviving big cats are being captured and medically examined as a precautionary measure.&nbsp;</p>


A Namibian cheetah has given birth to three cubs at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in west Indian state of Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, a Union minister said on Wednesday (Jan 3).

A Namibian cheetah has given birth to three cubs at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in west Indian state of Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, a Union minister said on Wednesday (Jan 3). "Purrs in the wild! Thrilled to share that Kuno National Park has welcomed three new members. The cubs have been born to Namibian Cheetah Aasha," Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said on social media platform X. He termed the development "a roaring success for Project Cheetah, envisioned by PM Narendra Modi to restore ecological balance". "My big congrats to all experts involved in the project, the Kuno wildlife officials, and wildlife enthusiasts across India," Yadav said in the post. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also expressed happiness over the birth of the cubs. "There was a time when cheetahs were extinct from Asia. Three cheetah cubs were born. This is a special event in the world. The birth of cubs shows that the cheetah project in Kuno National Park has been successful," he said. Madhya Pradesh has earned the status of being a ‘cheetah state’ under the guidance of PM Modi, the chief minister said. In March 2023, Siyaya, who was later renamed as Jwala, had given birth to four cubs, but only one of them survived. Jwala was also translocated to the KNP from Namibia. KNP sources said it is likely these three cubs were born to Aasha about a week back. "The story of Aasha begins in Namibia six years ago when she was born near the Waterberg Plateau National Park in 2017. She was translocated to India on September 17, 2022 as part of the world’s first intercontinental carnivore translocation project and has now successfully given birth to three cubs in KNP," an official said. With the birth of three cubs, the total number of cheetahs in the KNP has grown to 18. Cheetah, the fastest land animal, was declared extinct in the country in 1952. The relocation of cheetahs from Africa is part of the government’s ambitious plan to revive their population in India. Under the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, eight Namibian cheetahs – five female and three male – were released into enclosures at the KNP on September 17 in 2022. In February 2023, another 12 cheetahs were brought to the park from South Africa. Since March 2023, six adult cheetahs have died in the KNP due to various reasons, taking the total death count of felines in the park, including three cubs, to nine. Since August last year, all 15 cheetahs (seven male, seven female and one female cub) at the KNP were kept in bomas (enclosures) for the monitoring of their health parameters by Kuno’s team of veterinarians. In December last year, four cheetahs were released into the wild, but two of them were later captured and shifted to bomas. One of these two cheetahs, Agni, was tranquilised in Baran district of Rajasthan and brought back to the KNP on December 25. So, 13 out of the 15 are currently in bomas. In May last year, while voicing concern over the death of felines, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to file a detailed affidavit explaining the reasons and remedial measures taken. Later, the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had told the Supreme Court that the death of adult cheetahs and cubs at KNP is troubling, but not "unduly alarming", and the surviving big cats are being captured and medically examined as a precautionary measure.

'Purrs in the wild': Namibian cheetah delivers three cubs in Kuno Park in India's Madhya Pradesh

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<p>In Gurgaon, an unusual and potentially dangerous wildlife encounter unfolded when a leopard entered a house in Narsinghpur on Wednesday (Jan 3). The incident resulted in a 16-year-old boy sustaining minor injuries from scratches inflicted by the leopard.</p>

<p>Around 8 am, villagers spotted the four-year-old male leopard in Narsinghpur and promptly informed the wildlife authorities.</p>

<p>Wildlife inspector Rajesh Chahal detailed the events, stating that the leopard, initially sighted by villagers, had leaped over walls and entered an under-construction house. After some wandering, it moved to another residence.</p>

<h2><strong>Efforts to rescue the leopard</strong></h2>

<p>A joint operation involving the forest department and the police ensued. Inspector Aman, SHO of Sector 37 police station, confirmed the involvement of approximately 15 police officers in the operation.</p>

<p>The operation, lasting around five hours, culminated with the successful tranquilisation and rescue of the leopard around 1.30 pm.</p>

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<p>The 16-year-old boy who encountered the leopard suffered minor scratches and was promptly taken to a hospital for examination.</p>

<p>Following the successful rescue, a medical officer inspected the feline, confirming its fitness. Plans are underway to release the leopard back into the Aravallis forest area.</p>

<p>Officials revealed that the leopard had been spotted in the area for a month, prompting ongoing monitoring efforts. The region, near forest land, presented challenges in capturing the leopard despite earlier attempts using bait traps.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Indian government's data shows an upward trend in Tiger deaths</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-governments-data-shows-an-upward-trend-in-tiger-deaths-673406/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Human-wildlife conflict has been on the rise. Experts attribute these&nbsp;incidents to habitat loss for animals, indicating a growing concern for both human safety and wildlife preservation.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In Gurgaon, an unusual and potentially dangerous wildlife encounter unfolded when a leopard entered a house in Narsinghpur on Wednesday (Jan 3). The incident resulted in a 16-year-old boy sustaining minor injuries from scratches inflicted by the leopard.

In Gurgaon, an unusual and potentially dangerous wildlife encounter unfolded when a leopard entered a house in Narsinghpur on Wednesday (Jan 3). The incident resulted in a 16-year-old boy sustaining minor injuries from scratches inflicted by the leopard. Around 8 am, villagers spotted the four-year-old male leopard in Narsinghpur and promptly informed the wildlife authorities. Wildlife inspector Rajesh Chahal detailed the events, stating that the leopard, initially sighted by villagers, had leaped over walls and entered an under-construction house. After some wandering, it moved to another residence. Efforts to rescue the leopard A joint operation involving the forest department and the police ensued. Inspector Aman, SHO of Sector 37 police station, confirmed the involvement of approximately 15 police officers in the operation. The operation, lasting around five hours, culminated with the successful tranquilisation and rescue of the leopard around 1.30 pm. Also read | Humans may get infected by ‘Zombie Deer Disease’, warn scientists amid case surge in US The 16-year-old boy who encountered the leopard suffered minor scratches and was promptly taken to a hospital for examination. Following the successful rescue, a medical officer inspected the feline, confirming its fitness. Plans are underway to release the leopard back into the Aravallis forest area. Officials revealed that the leopard had been spotted in the area for a month, prompting ongoing monitoring efforts. The region, near forest land, presented challenges in capturing the leopard despite earlier attempts using bait traps. Also watch | Indian government's data shows an upward trend in Tiger deaths Human-wildlife conflict has been on the rise. Experts attribute these incidents to habitat loss for animals, indicating a growing concern for both human safety and wildlife preservation. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Leopard enters home in Gurgaon, rescued after roaming around for five hours

India anxious for status quo in Bangladesh elections as China holds ‘advantageous position’ regardless of outcome. Bangladesh is seen as India’s only reliable strategic partner in South Asia and as such, New Delhi wants PM Sheikh Hasina to retain power. China is unlikely to be affected by any electoral outcome in Bangladesh as it seeks to expand its sway in Dhaka, an analyst say.

What India has to gain & lose if Sheikh Hasina retains power in Bangladesh

The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), an international mega-science project that will serve as the largest radio telescope in the world, will now include scientists in India. This comes as ISRO launched a unique observatory on Monday to study X-rays and black holes in deep space, and plans are underway to build the third LIGO node in Maharashtra.

India is now part of world’s largest radio telescope project SKAO

Days after the 'Donkey flight,' which was halted in France for allegedly involvement in human trafficking, came in spotlight, authorities reveal that more than 60 people from Gujarat on board the Nicaragua-bound plane had agreed to pay $76,000 to $96,000 to immigration agents, who promised to cross into the US illegally after reaching the Latin American country.

Gujarat: Donkey flight investigation continues

In the Indian state of Punjab a massive blaze erupted out of the flyover in Ludhiana sending plumes of thick black smoke blowing into the sky after fuel a tanker caught fire. The oil tanker hit a divider and overturned take a look at these visuals.

Ludhiana oil tanker catches fire sets flyover ablaze

<p>Even as Delhi is experiencing a chilling winter with cold wave conditions in the first week of January, the Indian capital city recorded its warmest December in the last six years. In December 2023, the Indian capital has zero 'cold wave' days, as per the India Meteorological Department.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Many states across India are currently experiencing cold-wave-like conditions with bone-chilling temperatures.&nbsp;</p>

<p>‘Core cold wave zone’ states include Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Bihar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-weather-update-dense-fog-continues-to-blanket-delhi-north-india-grapples-with-cold-wave-676144">India Weather Update: Dense fog continues to blanket Delhi; North India grapples with cold wave</a></p>

<p>In the past couple of days, temperatures in many northern regions, including Delhi, have dropped below 5 degrees Celsius (23 Fahrenheit), as per reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A day is said to have been hit by a cold wave in case the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below and is 4.5 degrees Celsius (C) less than normal for two straight days.</p>

<p>The cold wave is accompanied by dense fog conditions, prompting authorities to issue advisories in many states, including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi, among others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Drivers are been asked to exercise caution. Additionally, IMD also urged people to use fog lights to increase visibility avoiding potential accidents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/passengers-on-france-human-trafficking-plane-paid-nearly-100k-for-illegal-us-entry-676141">Passengers on France 'human trafficking' plane paid nearly $100k for illegal US entry</a></p>

<h2><strong>Minimum temp 6.9 degrees on Jan 3&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Reports citing India Meteorological Department data on January 2 said the normal minimum temperature recorded was 6.9 degrees. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature was at 7.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday (Jan 3), as per the weather department.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ram-mandir-trustees-divides-over-the-colour-of-ram-lalla-idol-676165">Ram Mandir trustees divides over the colour of Ram Lalla idol</a></strong></p>

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<p>In another update on the weather, the highest temperature is expected to remain under 20 degrees Celsius up until 8 January, 2024, as per IMD.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from the dense fog and shivering temperatures, the 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) average in the Indian capital on Wednesday (Jan 3) was recorded at 332 at 7 am.</p>

<p>This comes under the "very poor" category on the AQI scale.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Even as Delhi is experiencing a chilling winter with cold wave conditions in the first week of January, the Indian capital city recorded its warmest December in the last six years.

Even as Delhi is experiencing a chilling winter with cold wave conditions in the first week of January, the Indian capital city recorded its warmest December in the last six years. In December 2023, the Indian capital has zero 'cold wave' days, as per the India Meteorological Department. Many states across India are currently experiencing cold-wave-like conditions with bone-chilling temperatures. ‘Core cold wave zone’ states include Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. Also Read | India Weather Update: Dense fog continues to blanket Delhi; North India grapples with cold wave In the past couple of days, temperatures in many northern regions, including Delhi, have dropped below 5 degrees Celsius (23 Fahrenheit), as per reports. A day is said to have been hit by a cold wave in case the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below and is 4.5 degrees Celsius (C) less than normal for two straight days. The cold wave is accompanied by dense fog conditions, prompting authorities to issue advisories in many states, including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi, among others. Drivers are been asked to exercise caution. Additionally, IMD also urged people to use fog lights to increase visibility avoiding potential accidents. Also Read | Passengers on France 'human trafficking' plane paid nearly $100k for illegal US entry Minimum temp 6.9 degrees on Jan 3 Reports citing India Meteorological Department data on January 2 said the normal minimum temperature recorded was 6.9 degrees. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature was at 7.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday (Jan 3), as per the weather department. Watch | Ram Mandir trustees divides over the colour of Ram Lalla idol × In another update on the weather, the highest temperature is expected to remain under 20 degrees Celsius up until 8 January, 2024, as per IMD. Apart from the dense fog and shivering temperatures, the 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) average in the Indian capital on Wednesday (Jan 3) was recorded at 332 at 7 am. This comes under the "very poor" category on the AQI scale. (With inputs from agencies)

India: For Delhi, there were zero 'cold wave' days in December 2023, warmest in last six years

303 passengers predominantly Indians found themselves at the centre of a high-stakes legal showdown in France. The passengers detained by the French authorities are back in India. Latest probe reveals agents booked air tickets & gave funds for emergency situations. Watch to get more insights!

India-France Plane Row: Gujarat state probes 'Donkey Flight,' at least 55 questioned

Is the Junta losing ground in Myanmar? Myanmar's Junta is battling unprecedented opposition alliance & struggling to recruit people amid poor equipment issues. Watch to get more insights!

Myanmar's Junta battles unprecedented opposition alliance

<p>As many as 66 people on board the&nbsp;Nicaragua-bound plane that was sent back to India on "human trafficking" concerns were reportedly from the western state of Gujarat. Initial investigation by the&nbsp;state Crime Investigation Department (CID) has found that these 66 had agreed to pay anywhere between Rs 60-80 lakh ($72,000-$96,000) to immigration agents to cross into the US illegally.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“In order to migrate illegally to the US, they had agreed to pay between Rs 60 lakh to 80 lakh (in total) to the local agents,” the CID stated, adding that passengers paid an advance of up to Rs 8 lakh ($9,600), including the ticket fees to the agents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The state CID said it has the information of 15 agents, who had promised to facilitate the alleged illegal immigration and that it will soon question them.&nbsp;CID says the majority of the passengers from Gujarat had only studied till the 8th or maximum 12th standard.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To expand its probe, Gujarat CID has written to&nbsp;the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and sought details from Dubai authorities on the agency that chartered the flight&nbsp;as well as on the financial transactions to secure visas from the UAE.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/first-visuals-of-passengers-of-plane-grounded-in-france-returns-with-276-indian-passengers-673559"><strong>Watch | First visuals of passengers of plane grounded in France; returns with 276 indian passengers</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>What happened with the plane and passengers?</strong></h2>

<p>On December 21, 303 Indian passengers boarded a Legend Airlines' A340 flight operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines in Dubai. The plane had stopped in Vatry, France for refuelling, where, based on a tip-off that the plane was carrying suspected victims of trafficking - it&nbsp;was grounded for four days.</p>

<p>After being interrogated by the French authorities, the plane landed in Mumbai on December 26, albeit with 276 passengers. The rest applied for asylum and were transferred to a special zone in Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport for asylum-seekers.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/plane-held-in-france-with-303-indian-passengers-onboard-departs-for-mumbai-673434">Plane with Indians grounded in France lands in Mumbai, only 276 passengers return</a></strong></p>

<p>Among the passengers who stayed in France were five minors, who have now been taken into the care of child welfare services.</p>

<p>Notably, passengers of the chartered plane had arrived in UAE at different times and each of them had legal tourist visas for entering Dubai. However, they all congregated at the same place and left for Nicaragua together before the flight was cut short in France.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


As many as 66 people on board the Nicaragua-bound plane that was sent back to India on "human trafficking" concerns were reportedly from the western state of Gujarat.

As many as 66 people on board the Nicaragua-bound plane that was sent back to India on "human trafficking" concerns were reportedly from the western state of Gujarat. Initial investigation by the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) has found that these 66 had agreed to pay anywhere between Rs 60-80 lakh ($72,000-$96,000) to immigration agents to cross into the US illegally. “In order to migrate illegally to the US, they had agreed to pay between Rs 60 lakh to 80 lakh (in total) to the local agents,” the CID stated, adding that passengers paid an advance of up to Rs 8 lakh ($9,600), including the ticket fees to the agents. The state CID said it has the information of 15 agents, who had promised to facilitate the alleged illegal immigration and that it will soon question them. CID says the majority of the passengers from Gujarat had only studied till the 8th or maximum 12th standard. To expand its probe, Gujarat CID has written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and sought details from Dubai authorities on the agency that chartered the flight as well as on the financial transactions to secure visas from the UAE. Watch | First visuals of passengers of plane grounded in France; returns with 276 indian passengers What happened with the plane and passengers? On December 21, 303 Indian passengers boarded a Legend Airlines' A340 flight operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines in Dubai. The plane had stopped in Vatry, France for refuelling, where, based on a tip-off that the plane was carrying suspected victims of trafficking - it was grounded for four days. After being interrogated by the French authorities, the plane landed in Mumbai on December 26, albeit with 276 passengers. The rest applied for asylum and were transferred to a special zone in Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport for asylum-seekers. Also read | Plane with Indians grounded in France lands in Mumbai, only 276 passengers return Among the passengers who stayed in France were five minors, who have now been taken into the care of child welfare services. Notably, passengers of the chartered plane had arrived in UAE at different times and each of them had legal tourist visas for entering Dubai. However, they all congregated at the same place and left for Nicaragua together before the flight was cut short in France. (With inputs from agencies)

Passengers on France 'human trafficking' plane paid nearly $100K for illegal US entry

India-France Plane Row: Gujarat state probes 'Donkey Flight,' at least 55 questioned so far

<p>Forty years after Indian Air Force Pilot and Astronaut Rakesh Sharma flew to space and stayed there for a week (as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme), Indian astronauts are to commence training for a trip to the International Space Station (ISS), as part of a US-led mission. Expected to happen in 2024, the Indian trip to the International Space Station (ISS) is meant to offer a practical learning experience and serve as a precursor to India's own effort to send&nbsp;astronauts to space and return&nbsp;them safely - an ambitious mission known as 'Gaganyaan'. So far, astronauts from more than 20 nations have visited and stayed at the ISS, a space-based lab that has been orbiting the Earth (at an altitude of 400 km) for more than 25 years.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">India: ISRO plans 2 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaganyaan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaganyaan</a> unmanned flights in 2024<br />
<br />
It's a highly challenging mission, we need to gain experience, and our astronauts are going through training for it: S. Somanath, <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> chief, speaks to <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sdhrthmp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aditi_dv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aditi_dv</a> brings you this report<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIONExclusive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIONExclusive</a> <a href="https://t.co/x56OgkefGU">pic.twitter.com/x56OgkefGU</a></p>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1742413351987421615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Starting the New Year with a successful launch mission PSLV-C58/XPoSat, Dr S&nbsp;Somanath, the chief of the Indian space agency said, 2024 would be the year of Gaganyaan preparedness. "Our target is to carry out the astronaut mission by 2025-end, for that we have to cross many milestones. Some of the milestones are three unmanned flights (full rehearsals) of the Human spaceflight mission but without the astronauts. In 2024, we have scheduled two unmanned missions and everything should go well," he told WION.</p>

<p>In the unmanned flights, ISRO would be flying a humanoid robot 'Vyommitra', designed and developed by the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU). The AI-equipped humanoid robot, onboard computers, and a host of sensors would offer ISRO situational awareness about the conditions within the astronaut-carrying capsule that's going to space and returning.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rewind-2023-india-has-204-space-startups-sector-received-123mn-investments-675353">Rewind 2023: India has 204 space startups, sector received $123mn investments</a></p>

<p>In October 2023, ISRO had flight tested the Crew Escape System (a mission designated TV-D1), a means of ejecting the crew capsule from the rocket, in case of a mid-flight failure, thereby ensuring a slow and safe parachute-assisted landing in the ocean. ISRO hopes to perform three more such tests, under varying conditions. Two of these are expected in 2024 and one in 2025.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In addition to these, ISRO would have to conduct helicopter-drop tests of the crew-carrying capsule, to validate the parachute systems and also conduct a Pad-abort test, which ejects the crew-carrying capsule from the rocket, in case of a mishap while the rocket is at the launchpad. Overall, 2024 would be a year where ISRO would have to carry out routine launch missions of its operational rockets (SSLV, PSLV, GSLV and LVM3), while also developing and engineering key technologies related to the Gaganyaan mission.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Collaboration on Human Spaceflight, including sending an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indian</a> astronaut to the International <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> station in 2024” says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> as he lists out areas of bilateral cooperation between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a><br />
<br />
Travel to <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> &amp; working there will prep astronauts for Gaganyaan <a href="https://t.co/mJfcX4sKdP">pic.twitter.com/mJfcX4sKdP</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1672074359031361537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>In recent years, Indian astronaut candidates (specifically chosen Indian Air Force pilots) have completed their initial training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, in Russia. They were at the famed Russian 'Star City', about 30 kilometres north of Moscow, where several generations of Russian and American astronauts have trained for their respective missions. After their return to India, the astronaut candidates have also undergone several theoretical and practical sessions at ISRO centres in India and the Indian Air Force's Institute of Aerospace Medicine. As a part of the Gaganyaan team, they are also assisting ISRO with the design and development of the crew-carrying capsule. At India's Human Spaceflight Centre in Bengaluru, they have also been undergoing simulator training and physical training</p>

<p>Queried about the commencement of the US phase of training for the Indian astronauts, Dr&nbsp;Somanath told WION that it will happen soon. He told WION that it is on India's wish list to have an astronaut flying to the International Space Station (ISS), as India's only reference point for Human Spaceflight is that of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (Retd), who flew in 1984. That maiden spaceflight by an Indian was on a Soviet-era crew capsule and since then the technologies have changed drastically.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The US Human spaceflight scenario is completely changed and the launches are being carried out by the private firms and it is not being done by the US Government, as was the case earlier. As per the India-US (ISRO-NASA) arrangement, NASA will sponsor a seat in the private launch that will happen to the ISS, our astronaut will undergo training at their facility and will then be sent to the International Space Station," he had told WION.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India plans two Gaganyaan unmanned flights in 2024 | ISRO Chief S Somanath speaks to WION</strong></p>

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<p>He added that there are many crew modules and different approaches being taken by various American firms to reach the Space Station. He referred to the SpaceX Crew Dragon Capsule, the Boeing Starliner capsule and the variant offered by Blue Origin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Indian astronaut candidates would be offered advanced training at NASA's Johnson Space Center, which is also known in the US as the Hub of Human Spaceflight. Established in 1961, this facility in Houston, Texas, started off as the Manned Spacecraft Centre, the home and Mission Control Center for the US Human Spaceflight programme. In 1973, the facility was renamed in honour of the late President and Texas Native Lyndon B Johnson. In more than six decades of operation, the facility has made notable advances in science, technology, engineering and medicine, thereby enabling crewed space exploration.</p>

<p>Significant initiatives towards Indo-US Space Cooperation were announced during the Joint Statement delivered by Prime Minister Modi and President Biden, in June 2022. It included the announcement by NASA to provide advanced training to Indian astronauts at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, with a goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">First-look of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indian</a> astronaut candidates revealed in latest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianAirForce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianAirForce</a> video 🇮🇳🚀👨‍🚀<br />
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Could be the IAF pilot-astronauts working out&amp; preparing for their new role..why else would they share a back-facing-camera shot ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaganyaan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaganyaan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Science</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://t.co/0WbsyHElXI">pic.twitter.com/0WbsyHElXI</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1709200253130543198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>So far, the identities of the four Indian astronaut candidates have not been revealed. The only glimpse offered in this regard is from an Indian Air Force video released as part of the 91st IAF Day celebrations.&nbsp;</p>


Forty years after Indian Air Force Pilot and Astronaut Rakesh Sharma flew to space and stayed there for a week (as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme), Indian astronauts are to commence training for a trip to the International Space Station (ISS), as part of a US-led mission.

Forty years after Indian Air Force Pilot and Astronaut Rakesh Sharma flew to space and stayed there for a week (as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme), Indian astronauts are to commence training for a trip to the International Space Station (ISS), as part of a US-led mission. Expected to happen in 2024, the Indian trip to the International Space Station (ISS) is meant to offer a practical learning experience and serve as a precursor to India's own effort to send astronauts to space and return them safely - an ambitious mission known as 'Gaganyaan'. So far, astronauts from more than 20 nations have visited and stayed at the ISS, a space-based lab that has been orbiting the Earth (at an altitude of 400 km) for more than 25 years. India: ISRO plans 2 #Gaganyaan unmanned flights in 2024 It's a highly challenging mission, we need to gain experience, and our astronauts are going through training for it: S. Somanath, @isro chief, speaks to @sdhrthmp @aditi_dv brings you this report#WIONExclusive pic.twitter.com/x56OgkefGU — WION (@WIONews) January 3, 2024 × Starting the New Year with a successful launch mission PSLV-C58/XPoSat, Dr S Somanath, the chief of the Indian space agency said, 2024 would be the year of Gaganyaan preparedness. "Our target is to carry out the astronaut mission by 2025-end, for that we have to cross many milestones. Some of the milestones are three unmanned flights (full rehearsals) of the Human spaceflight mission but without the astronauts. In 2024, we have scheduled two unmanned missions and everything should go well," he told WION. In the unmanned flights, ISRO would be flying a humanoid robot 'Vyommitra', designed and developed by the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU). The AI-equipped humanoid robot, onboard computers, and a host of sensors would offer ISRO situational awareness about the conditions within the astronaut-carrying capsule that's going to space and returning. Also read: Rewind 2023: India has 204 space startups, sector received $123mn investments In October 2023, ISRO had flight tested the Crew Escape System (a mission designated TV-D1), a means of ejecting the crew capsule from the rocket, in case of a mid-flight failure, thereby ensuring a slow and safe parachute-assisted landing in the ocean. ISRO hopes to perform three more such tests, under varying conditions. Two of these are expected in 2024 and one in 2025. In addition to these, ISRO would have to conduct helicopter-drop tests of the crew-carrying capsule, to validate the parachute systems and also conduct a Pad-abort test, which ejects the crew-carrying capsule from the rocket, in case of a mishap while the rocket is at the launchpad. Overall, 2024 would be a year where ISRO would have to carry out routine launch missions of its operational rockets (SSLV, PSLV, GSLV and LVM3), while also developing and engineering key technologies related to the Gaganyaan mission. “Collaboration on Human Spaceflight, including sending an #Indian astronaut to the International #space station in 2024” says @POTUS as he lists out areas of bilateral cooperation between #india & #USA Travel to @Space_Station & working there will prep astronauts for Gaganyaan pic.twitter.com/mJfcX4sKdP — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) June 23, 2023 × In recent years, Indian astronaut candidates (specifically chosen Indian Air Force pilots) have completed their initial training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, in Russia. They were at the famed Russian 'Star City', about 30 kilometres north of Moscow, where several generations of Russian and American astronauts have trained for their respective missions. After their return to India, the astronaut candidates have also undergone several theoretical and practical sessions at ISRO centres in India and the Indian Air Force's Institute of Aerospace Medicine. As a part of the Gaganyaan team, they are also assisting ISRO with the design and development of the crew-carrying capsule. At India's Human Spaceflight Centre in Bengaluru, they have also been undergoing simulator training and physical training Queried about the commencement of the US phase of training for the Indian astronauts, Dr Somanath told WION that it will happen soon. He told WION that it is on India's wish list to have an astronaut flying to the International Space Station (ISS), as India's only reference point for Human Spaceflight is that of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (Retd), who flew in 1984. That maiden spaceflight by an Indian was on a Soviet-era crew capsule and since then the technologies have changed drastically. "The US Human spaceflight scenario is completely changed and the launches are being carried out by the private firms and it is not being done by the US Government, as was the case earlier. As per the India-US (ISRO-NASA) arrangement, NASA will sponsor a seat in the private launch that will happen to the ISS, our astronaut will undergo training at their facility and will then be sent to the International Space Station," he had told WION. Watch: India plans two Gaganyaan unmanned flights in 2024 | ISRO Chief S Somanath speaks to WION He added that there are many crew modules and different approaches being taken by various American firms to reach the Space Station. He referred to the SpaceX Crew Dragon Capsule, the Boeing Starliner capsule and the variant offered by Blue Origin. Indian astronaut candidates would be offered advanced training at NASA's Johnson Space Center, which is also known in the US as the Hub of Human Spaceflight. Established in 1961, this facility in Houston, Texas, started off as the Manned Spacecraft Centre, the home and Mission Control Center for the US Human Spaceflight programme. In 1973, the facility was renamed in honour of the late President and Texas Native Lyndon B Johnson. In more than six decades of operation, the facility has made notable advances in science, technology, engineering and medicine, thereby enabling crewed space exploration. Significant initiatives towards Indo-US Space Cooperation were announced during the Joint Statement delivered by Prime Minister Modi and President Biden, in June 2022. It included the announcement by NASA to provide advanced training to Indian astronauts at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, with a goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024. First-look of #indian astronaut candidates revealed in latest #IndianAirForce video 🇮🇳🚀👨‍🚀 Could be the IAF pilot-astronauts working out& preparing for their new role..why else would they share a back-facing-camera shot ?? #isro #india #space #Gaganyaan #Science #tech pic.twitter.com/0WbsyHElXI — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) October 3, 2023 × So far, the identities of the four Indian astronaut candidates have not been revealed. The only glimpse offered in this regard is from an Indian Air Force video released as part of the 91st IAF Day celebrations.

Exclusive: Indian astronauts to soon train at NASA's Johnson Space Center

After Chandrayaan-3's success, ISRO is determined to send two unmanned flights in 2024. The Gaganyaan mission targetted for 2025 aims to send astronauts to space and the mission will carry a crew of two or three astronauts.

WION Exclusive: Indian astronauts to soon train at NASA's Johnson Centre | India News | WION

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