The National Investigative Agency (NIA) has taken over the Poonch terror attack matter and reached the spot of the incident. Meanwhile, a manhunt has been launched to nab the terrorists and look into the possible motives behind the attack. The attack led to 5 army jawans being martyred.

NIA takes over Poonch terror attack investigation, manhunt on for terrorists

A bull calf that got hit by a semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express train was catapulted into the air and knocked down an 82-year-old man on Wednesday (April 19) near the Alwar railway station in Rajasthan, killing him instantly. The calf also died on the spot.&nbsp;

The series of incidents, according to India Today, began when a calf got on the tracks and obstructed the Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer Vande Bharat Express train. Following the train's collision with the calf, a man urinating&nbsp;by the track was struck and killed, and the calf was also killed.&nbsp;As per reports, the incident occurred in the Alwar District of Rajasthan in the jurisdiction of Aravali Vihar Police Station.

Shiv Dayal Sharma, who died, was a former railway worker in the electric department who was standing around 30 metres from the point of impact, as reported by The Hindu.

<h2 id="Vande_Bharat_accidents_involving_cattle">Vande Bharat accidents involving cattle</h2>

According to official statistics provided by the Indian Railways, more than 90,000&nbsp;cattle have been ran over by trains since 2019. There were 27,057 cases in 2019–20, while there were 19,960 instances in 2020–21. The number of cases rose to 28,727 in 2021–2022 in this category. There were 26,180 incidents in 2022–2023 as of January 23, 2023.

Indian Railways is currently considering fencing the rail lines along the 622-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad length in order to avoid such incidents. According to Ashwini Vaishnav, the union minister for railways, the around $245.26 crore project got underway in January of this year.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-states-of-assam-arunachal-pradesh-sign-border-pact-ending-decades-old-disputes-584797">Indian states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh sign border pact ending decades-old disputes</a>

Two incidents of cattle hits were reported in October 2022, one at one at Atul railway station and another&nbsp;at Anand railway station, both in the Indian state of Gujarat. The train's nose had then sustained significant damage in the Atul accident.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;UP Police launches state-wide manhunt for Atiq Ahmed's wife Shaista Parveen

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“In the current incident the train got a few scratches and continued its run without stopping,” public relations officer of North-Western Railway told The Hindu.

In addition, Vaishnaw has recommended building a 1,000 km long boundary wall since some North Central Railway sections in Uttar Pradesh are susceptible to cattle hits.

<h2>Vande Bharat to make inroads in Kerala&nbsp;</h2>

On April 25, at around 10:30 am, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;will flag off Kerala's first Vande Bharat Express between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod at Thiruvananthapuram Central Station, as reported by the Mint.

The train will cover 11 Districts namely Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod.

&nbsp;

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A bull calf that got hit by a semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express train was catapulted into the air and knocked down an 82-year-old man on Wednesday (April 19) near the Alwar railway station in Rajasthan, killing him instantly.

A bull calf that got hit by a semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express train was catapulted into the air and knocked down an 82-year-old man on Wednesday (April 19) near the Alwar railway station in Rajasthan, killing him instantly. The calf also died on the spot. The series of incidents, according to India Today, began when a calf got on the tracks and obstructed the Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer Vande Bharat Express train. Following the train's collision with the calf, a man urinating by the track was struck and killed, and the calf was also killed. As per reports, the incident occurred in the Alwar District of Rajasthan in the jurisdiction of Aravali Vihar Police Station. Shiv Dayal Sharma, who died, was a former railway worker in the electric department who was standing around 30 metres from the point of impact, as reported by The Hindu. Vande Bharat accidents involving cattle According to official statistics provided by the Indian Railways, more than 90,000 cattle have been ran over by trains since 2019. There were 27,057 cases in 2019–20, while there were 19,960 instances in 2020–21. The number of cases rose to 28,727 in 2021–2022 in this category. There were 26,180 incidents in 2022–2023 as of January 23, 2023. Indian Railways is currently considering fencing the rail lines along the 622-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad length in order to avoid such incidents. According to Ashwini Vaishnav, the union minister for railways, the around $245.26 crore project got underway in January of this year. ALSO READ | Indian states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh sign border pact ending decades-old disputes Two incidents of cattle hits were reported in October 2022, one at one at Atul railway station and another at Anand railway station, both in the Indian state of Gujarat. The train's nose had then sustained significant damage in the Atul accident. ALSO WATCH | UP Police launches state-wide manhunt for Atiq Ahmed's wife Shaista Parveen “In the current incident the train got a few scratches and continued its run without stopping,” public relations officer of North-Western Railway told The Hindu. In addition, Vaishnaw has recommended building a 1,000 km long boundary wall since some North Central Railway sections in Uttar Pradesh are susceptible to cattle hits. Vande Bharat to make inroads in Kerala On April 25, at around 10:30 am, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Kerala's first Vande Bharat Express between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod at Thiruvananthapuram Central Station, as reported by the Mint. The train will cover 11 Districts namely Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Calf struck by Vande Bharat train lands on man urinating on tracks, both die

The Indian Space Agency (ISRO) commenced the countdown for the Saturday launch of its PSLV rocket carrying two Singaporean satellites. The 25 hours 30 minutes countdown commenced at 12:50 on Friday,&nbsp;and the vehicle liftoff will happen at 2:20 pm (Indian time) on Saturday. This will be the 57th&nbsp;flight of India's PSLV rocket, at present the oldest and most-flown rocket in the country's fleet.&nbsp;

The primary passenger satellites is TeLEOS-2, a 741kg satellite developed under a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering. Once deployed and operational, it will be used to support the all-weather, day and night, satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the Government of Singapore. TeLEOS-2 carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload.

The secondary passenger is LUMELITE-4, a 16-kg satellite developed by Singaporean academia. LUMELITE-4 is developed for the technological demonstration of the High-Performance Space-borne VHF Data Exchange System (VDES). It aims to augment Singapore’s e-navigation maritime safety and benefit the global shipping community.

In addition to the two primary satellites, there are seven non-separating payloads that are on-board the PSLV rocket. These experiments would be housed within the fourth&nbsp;and final stage of the rocket.&nbsp;According to ISRO,&nbsp;PSLV-C55 mission will carry out in-orbit scientific experiments by using the spent PS4 stage as an orbital platform. This is the third time that PS4 will be used after satellite separations as a platform for experiments.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-polish-climber-rescues-indian-mountaineer-anurag-maloo-from-depths-of-annapurna-crevasse-584813">Polish climber rescues Indian mountaineer Anurag Maloo from depths of Annapurna crevasse</a>

Earlier this week, ISRO anounced that the PSLV vehicle in its core-alone configuration (without strap on boosters) would lift-off from the first launch pad in Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, at 2:19pm. The two satellites will be placed in a circular obrit, 586kms above the earth's surface. However, the launch is now learnt to have been delayed by a minute. What's in a minute you may ask. In orbital rocketry, a minute could mean the difference between catastrophe and celebration.

<h2>How are rocket launch timings determined?</h2>

There is an entire branch of space science known as 'Orbital Mechanics' that is used to determine what is known as a 'Launch window', a period of time within which a certain launch must happen. Launch windows depend on a plethora of factors - place of launch, type of orbit intended, final destination, whether the satellite is headed for another planet, number of satellites being carried, the time of the year, position of the relevant heavenly bodies and also minimal risk of space debris.&nbsp;

We know that&nbsp;Low Earth orbit is getting increasingly populated with constellations of communication satellites from various firms, and also pre-existing satellites, space debris and much more. Under such circumstances, space agencies look at the safest time of flight, when there is nil risk of collission or proximate approaches with space debris. Even, millimetre-sized debris can pose a major threat to space assets, as the debris in Low Earth orbit circles the earth at speeds close to 27,000kmph. A collission at such speeds could have unimaginable impacts.&nbsp;

<h2>How ISRO monitors space debris, safeguards space assets?</h2>

The Indian Space agency has a facility aimed at performing what in simple terms can be explained as a holistic 'Traffic Management in Space' and to ensure the sustainable use of space. Known as the&nbsp;'ISRO System for Safe &amp; Sustainable Operations Management' (IS4OM), the new facility based in Bengaluru will perform a host of functions - safeguarding India's space assets, protecting them from space debris, predicting the orbital movement of debris, predicting likely collisions and coordinating with global agencies for all of the above.&nbsp;

"This is not about (space)traffic management alone, it is about keeping orbits available to everyone, operating in space without causing problems to one another and ensuring sustainable use" explained ISRO Chairman, Dr&nbsp;S. Somanath had earlier told WION.&nbsp;

Elaborating on the different functions of 'IS40M', Dr&nbsp;Somanath said, "Firstly it is about using radars and optical observation to watch and tag objects in space, then we will have to&nbsp;consider the effect of earth's gravitational pull, impact of sun and moon etc. and&nbsp;predict the movement of the said object/debris. Based on this, we will have to look for possibilities of collisions. This entire process has to be carried out on a daily basis. In case an object poses a threat to our satellite, we must accordingly move our satellite out of harm's way and also inform foreign agencies(whose satellites are in the vicinity) about our collision avoidance maneuver."

In addition to this, the objects that are likely to fall back onto earth), asteroids that are on collision course with earth will also have to be tracked. These are complex calculations and are error-prone, owing to the large number of factors involved, thus necessitating various corrections.&nbsp;Dr&nbsp;Somanath added that these mathematical models used to calculate and project the path of debris and their impact etc. are indigenously developed and even if a country wanted, such models are not available for purchase in the International market.

On India's capabilities, he had explained that India has radars that are&nbsp;meant to observe satellites and the Indian space agency is also installing optical tracking facilities. However, the Indian space agency&nbsp;does not have all facilities required to track objects of 10cm size and for this it relies on data provided by foreign agencies.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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The Indian Space Agency (ISRO) commenced the countdown for the Saturday launch of its PSLV rocket carrying two Singaporean satellites. The 25 hours 30 minutes countdown commenced at 12:50 on Friday, and the vehicle liftoff will happen at 2:20 pm (Indian time) on Saturday.

The Indian Space Agency (ISRO) commenced the countdown for the Saturday launch of its PSLV rocket carrying two Singaporean satellites. The 25 hours 30 minutes countdown commenced at 12:50 on Friday, and the vehicle liftoff will happen at 2:20 pm (Indian time) on Saturday. This will be the 57th flight of India's PSLV rocket, at present the oldest and most-flown rocket in the country's fleet. The primary passenger satellites is TeLEOS-2, a 741kg satellite developed under a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering. Once deployed and operational, it will be used to support the all-weather, day and night, satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the Government of Singapore. TeLEOS-2 carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload. The secondary passenger is LUMELITE-4, a 16-kg satellite developed by Singaporean academia. LUMELITE-4 is developed for the technological demonstration of the High-Performance Space-borne VHF Data Exchange System (VDES). It aims to augment Singapore’s e-navigation maritime safety and benefit the global shipping community. In addition to the two primary satellites, there are seven non-separating payloads that are on-board the PSLV rocket. These experiments would be housed within the fourth and final stage of the rocket. According to ISRO, PSLV-C55 mission will carry out in-orbit scientific experiments by using the spent PS4 stage as an orbital platform. This is the third time that PS4 will be used after satellite separations as a platform for experiments. ALSO READ | Polish climber rescues Indian mountaineer Anurag Maloo from depths of Annapurna crevasse Earlier this week, ISRO anounced that the PSLV vehicle in its core-alone configuration (without strap on boosters) would lift-off from the first launch pad in Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, at 2:19pm. The two satellites will be placed in a circular obrit, 586kms above the earth's surface. However, the launch is now learnt to have been delayed by a minute. What's in a minute you may ask. In orbital rocketry, a minute could mean the difference between catastrophe and celebration. How are rocket launch timings determined? There is an entire branch of space science known as 'Orbital Mechanics' that is used to determine what is known as a 'Launch window', a period of time within which a certain launch must happen. Launch windows depend on a plethora of factors - place of launch, type of orbit intended, final destination, whether the satellite is headed for another planet, number of satellites being carried, the time of the year, position of the relevant heavenly bodies and also minimal risk of space debris. We know that Low Earth orbit is getting increasingly populated with constellations of communication satellites from various firms, and also pre-existing satellites, space debris and much more. Under such circumstances, space agencies look at the safest time of flight, when there is nil risk of collission or proximate approaches with space debris. Even, millimetre-sized debris can pose a major threat to space assets, as the debris in Low Earth orbit circles the earth at speeds close to 27,000kmph. A collission at such speeds could have unimaginable impacts. How ISRO monitors space debris, safeguards space assets? The Indian Space agency has a facility aimed at performing what in simple terms can be explained as a holistic 'Traffic Management in Space' and to ensure the sustainable use of space. Known as the 'ISRO System for Safe & Sustainable Operations Management' (IS4OM), the new facility based in Bengaluru will perform a host of functions - safeguarding India's space assets, protecting them from space debris, predicting the orbital movement of debris, predicting likely collisions and coordinating with global agencies for all of the above. "This is not about (space)traffic management alone, it is about keeping orbits available to everyone, operating in space without causing problems to one another and ensuring sustainable use" explained ISRO Chairman, Dr S. Somanath had earlier told WION. Elaborating on the different functions of 'IS40M', Dr Somanath said, "Firstly it is about using radars and optical observation to watch and tag objects in space, then we will have to consider the effect of earth's gravitational pull, impact of sun and moon etc. and predict the movement of the said object/debris. Based on this, we will have to look for possibilities of collisions. This entire process has to be carried out on a daily basis. In case an object poses a threat to our satellite, we must accordingly move our satellite out of harm's way and also inform foreign agencies(whose satellites are in the vicinity) about our collision avoidance maneuver." In addition to this, the objects that are likely to fall back onto earth), asteroids that are on collision course with earth will also have to be tracked. These are complex calculations and are error-prone, owing to the large number of factors involved, thus necessitating various corrections. Dr Somanath added that these mathematical models used to calculate and project the path of debris and their impact etc. are indigenously developed and even if a country wanted, such models are not available for purchase in the International market. On India's capabilities, he had explained that India has radars that are meant to observe satellites and the Indian space agency is also installing optical tracking facilities. However, the Indian space agency does not have all facilities required to track objects of 10cm size and for this it relies on data provided by foreign agencies. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained: ISRO starts countdown for launch of 'PSLV-C55', but why the one-minute delay?

Ending an over 50-year-old border dispute, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday signed an agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah here which will bring settlement to 123 villages located along areas the two northeastern states share.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu signed the agreement. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km-long border which has been in dispute since the latter was made a union territory in 1972. It was upgraded to state in 1987.

Shah said the dispute over 123 villages on both sides of the inter-state border has been resolved once and for all at a time when the country is celebrating its 75th year of Independence.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-hits-back-at-g7-says-position-as-nuclear-state-final-and-irreversible-584618">North Korea hits back at G7, says position as nuclear state 'final and irreversible'</a>

He said it was a historic event for both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh resolving their long boundary dispute amicably. Shah exuded optimism that the boundary settlement would usher in all-round development and peace in the Northeast as the agreement ended the border dispute which has been lingering since 1972.

"It is a big moment for the entire northeastern region which has been witnessing all round development ever since the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014," he said. The home minister said Modi has been actively promoting the growth of languages, literature and culture of the Northeast and the recent record-breaking performance of Bihu dance was a shining example.

He said that the report of the Local Commission on the border dispute kept circling around for decades, which has now been accepted by both the states. Shah said today's agreement will prove to be a milestone in the direction of realising Modi's dream of a developed, peaceful and conflict-free Northeast.

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Shah said that since 2018, the central government has signed several accords including with Bru tribals, insurgent groups NLFT and some belonging to Assam's Karbi Anglong and established peace and ended violence in the Northeast.

He said as compared to 2014, there has been a 67 per cent reduction in incidents of violence, 60 per cent reduction in the number of deaths of security forces and 83 per cent reduction in the number of civilian deaths in the Northeast, which is a big achievement.

The home minister said the Modi government has withdrawn the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from most of places in Assam, 15 police stations in 6 districts in Manipur, all but 3 districts in Arunachal Pradesh, 7 districts in Nagaland, and entire Tripura and Meghalaya.

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Assam chief minister Sarma termed the signing of the MoU as historic and said the deal would be a harbinger of peace and prosperity. He said after 51 years, one of India's longest running inter-state disputes comes to a decisive end and this breakthrough has been possible due to the prime minister's blessings, guidance of the union home minister and unstinted support from Arunachal Pradesh chief minister.

"Today's agreement with Arunachal Pradesh is in line with similar efforts made with Meghalaya in last two years. This will boost the spirit of bonhomie in the Northeast and strengthen our federal structure as it brings a new paradigm to resolve differences between states," he said.

Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Khandu termed the settlement of boundary dispute as "momentous and historic" and exuded confidence that it would bring about a sea change on the peace and development of both the states.

He said the agreement has been possible due to the initiative and political will of the prime minister and the union home minister and active cooperation of the Assam government led by Sarma. 
Out of the 123 villages claimed by Arunachal Pradesh before the Local Commission in 2007, 71 have been amicable resolved so far.

This includes 27 villages resolved through the Namsai Declaration on July 15, 2022 and 34 villages through this MoU.

Out of the 71 villages, one village will be included in Assam from Arunachal Pradesh, 10 villages will continue in Assam and 60 villages will be included in Arunachal Pradesh from Assam. Out of the remaining 52 villages, the village boundary of 49 villages is to be finalised by the regional committees in next six months while three villages situation inside the IAF bombing range will require rehabilitation.

Officials said the agreement will end the dispute relating to 123 villages along the border keeping in view the historical perspective, demographic profile, administrative convenience, proximity to the border and the aspirations of the residents. Under the pact, both the state governments have agreed that it will be final with regards to these 123 disputed villages and neither of the states will make any new claim related to any area or village in future.

After the agreement, a detailed survey will be carried out by the Survey of India in the presence of representatives of both the state governments to determine the boundaries of both the states, officials said. 
Sarma said as a goodwill gesture, the Arunachal Pradesh government will hand over a large tract of land under in possession in Assam's Jorhat to the Assam government.

Arunachal Pradesh, which was made a union territory in 1972, has been maintaining that several forested tracts in the plains traditionally belonged to hill tribal chiefs and communities and these were "unilaterally" transferred to Assam earlier.

After Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was appointed, which recommended that certain territories be transferred from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. Assam contested this and the matter was in the Supreme Court for a long time.

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Ending an over 50-year-old border dispute, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday signed an agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah here which will bring settlement to 123 villages located along areas the two northeastern states share.

Ending an over 50-year-old border dispute, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday signed an agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah here which will bring settlement to 123 villages located along areas the two northeastern states share. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu signed the agreement. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km-long border which has been in dispute since the latter was made a union territory in 1972. It was upgraded to state in 1987. Shah said the dispute over 123 villages on both sides of the inter-state border has been resolved once and for all at a time when the country is celebrating its 75th year of Independence. Also Read | North Korea hits back at G7, says position as nuclear state 'final and irreversible' He said it was a historic event for both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh resolving their long boundary dispute amicably. Shah exuded optimism that the boundary settlement would usher in all-round development and peace in the Northeast as the agreement ended the border dispute which has been lingering since 1972. "It is a big moment for the entire northeastern region which has been witnessing all round development ever since the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014," he said. The home minister said Modi has been actively promoting the growth of languages, literature and culture of the Northeast and the recent record-breaking performance of Bihu dance was a shining example. He said that the report of the Local Commission on the border dispute kept circling around for decades, which has now been accepted by both the states. Shah said today's agreement will prove to be a milestone in the direction of realising Modi's dream of a developed, peaceful and conflict-free Northeast. Also Read | Russian recruitment ad calling for 'real men' to fight in Ukraine Shah said that since 2018, the central government has signed several accords including with Bru tribals, insurgent groups NLFT and some belonging to Assam's Karbi Anglong and established peace and ended violence in the Northeast. He said as compared to 2014, there has been a 67 per cent reduction in incidents of violence, 60 per cent reduction in the number of deaths of security forces and 83 per cent reduction in the number of civilian deaths in the Northeast, which is a big achievement. The home minister said the Modi government has withdrawn the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from most of places in Assam, 15 police stations in 6 districts in Manipur, all but 3 districts in Arunachal Pradesh, 7 districts in Nagaland, and entire Tripura and Meghalaya. Watch | Have British schools become breeding grounds for Anti-Hindu hate? × Assam chief minister Sarma termed the signing of the MoU as historic and said the deal would be a harbinger of peace and prosperity. He said after 51 years, one of India's longest running inter-state disputes comes to a decisive end and this breakthrough has been possible due to the prime minister's blessings, guidance of the union home minister and unstinted support from Arunachal Pradesh chief minister. "Today's agreement with Arunachal Pradesh is in line with similar efforts made with Meghalaya in last two years. This will boost the spirit of bonhomie in the Northeast and strengthen our federal structure as it brings a new paradigm to resolve differences between states," he said. Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Khandu termed the settlement of boundary dispute as "momentous and historic" and exuded confidence that it would bring about a sea change on the peace and development of both the states. He said the agreement has been possible due to the initiative and political will of the prime minister and the union home minister and active cooperation of the Assam government led by Sarma. Out of the 123 villages claimed by Arunachal Pradesh before the Local Commission in 2007, 71 have been amicable resolved so far. This includes 27 villages resolved through the Namsai Declaration on July 15, 2022 and 34 villages through this MoU. Out of the 71 villages, one village will be included in Assam from Arunachal Pradesh, 10 villages will continue in Assam and 60 villages will be included in Arunachal Pradesh from Assam. Out of the remaining 52 villages, the village boundary of 49 villages is to be finalised by the regional committees in next six months while three villages situation inside the IAF bombing range will require rehabilitation. Officials said the agreement will end the dispute relating to 123 villages along the border keeping in view the historical perspective, demographic profile, administrative convenience, proximity to the border and the aspirations of the residents. Under the pact, both the state governments have agreed that it will be final with regards to these 123 disputed villages and neither of the states will make any new claim related to any area or village in future. After the agreement, a detailed survey will be carried out by the Survey of India in the presence of representatives of both the state governments to determine the boundaries of both the states, officials said. Sarma said as a goodwill gesture, the Arunachal Pradesh government will hand over a large tract of land under in possession in Assam's Jorhat to the Assam government. Arunachal Pradesh, which was made a union territory in 1972, has been maintaining that several forested tracts in the plains traditionally belonged to hill tribal chiefs and communities and these were "unilaterally" transferred to Assam earlier. After Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was appointed, which recommended that certain territories be transferred from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. Assam contested this and the matter was in the Supreme Court for a long time. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh sign border pact ending decades-old disputes

China is neither approaching the border talks with India seriously nor with a sense of goodwill, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu said in a recent interview with PTI.

China is neither approaching the border talks with India seriously nor with a sense of goodwill, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu said in a recent interview with PTI. Reflecting on the border tension between the two neighbouring countries that has been ongoing for the last few years, Lu said Beijing was not taking a constructive position. "We see little evidence that the Chinese government is seriously approaching these talks with a sense of goodwill. What we see is the opposite. We see provocations that happen on the line of actual control on a pretty regular basis," he was quoted as saying by the news agency. The US leader added that India could count on USA's support as it engaged with China, adding that the dispute could only be solved through "a negotiated settlement and through direct conversations between the two countries". Lu's statement comes a day after a top US commander said Washington was providing assistance to India to counter China in the border areas and also develop a defence industrial base. WATCH | India-China border standoff: What comes next | Troops pulled back from a major flashpoint × US providing assistance to India Admiral John Christopher Aquilino, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command during a hearing on Indo-Pacific National Security Challenges conducted by the House Armed Services Committee said Washington and New Delhi faced the same security challenge from Beijing in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region. “We value our partnership with India, and we've been increasing it and doing a lot more, over time. They have the same security challenge, primary security challenger that we do, and it's real on their northern border. Two skirmishes now in over the past nine or 10 months on that border, as they continue to get pressurised by the PRC for border gains," said Aquilino. ALSO READ | India, US facing same security threat from China, says top US Indo-Pacific commander The admiral noted that the US had assisted India in the form of supplying cold weather gear and other capabilities that they might need to defend the border areas. "Additionally, we’re expanding our cooperation in the form of production as India tries to work to develop its own industrial base. So, C-130 critical components made in India, helicopter critical frameworks made in India. That is expanding the partnership and moving them towards self-sufficiency and increased partnership with the United States." Over the last few months, there has been an uptick in outreach attempts from the US on the India-China border issue. Media reports in the states last month claimed that the Biden administration, for the first time, provided real-time insights to Indian government. The details helped India neutralise the incursion attempts by the PLA troops in Northeastern India's Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang Sector. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China not approaching border talks with India seriously, says Washington

Tibetan spiritual guru Dalai Lama on Friday attended the Global Buddhist Summit, a two-day event hosted by India in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBS) on 20 and 21 April. &nbsp;Dalai Lama spoke for a length of about thirty minutes to a group of monks and other delegates who had assembled here on day 2 of the gathering, according to PTI news agency citing sources.

In his address, the spiritual guru highlighted the ideals and philosophy of Buddhism. ''In his nearly half-an-hour address, the Tibetan spiritual leader spoke of compassion, wisdom and meditation,'' a source told PTI.

Dalai Lama said that these are three ideals which are central to the philosophy and teachings of Lord Buddha. There was no confirmation of the Dalai Lama's visit. He was issued an invitation to the event, organisers said on Monday during a news conference. However, it had not been determined if he would attend.

On Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at the opening session of the groundbreaking summit.

PM Modi during his address mentioned the challenges posed by the present times. His address figured concerns including war, climate change, economic instability, terrorism and religious extremism.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-hits-back-at-g7-says-position-as-nuclear-state-final-and-irreversible-584618">North Korea hits back at G7, says position as nuclear state 'final and irreversible'</a>

The prime minister said that these challenges can be overcome with the help of Lord Buddha's teachings.&nbsp;

There are two parts to the summit. One is academic session and the other one is Sangha session. The inaugural session was open for the media to attend however, the second session was not.&nbsp;

Early on Friday morning, a government-in-exile official from the Central Tibetan Administration, also known as the CTA, informed PTI that "His Holiness will attend the event." The conference is being hosted at The Ashok Hotel in New Delhi.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-russian-recruitment-ad-calling-for-real-men-to-fight-in-ukraine-584624">Russian recruitment ad calling for 'real men' to fight in Ukraine</a>

It is a first-of-its-kind summit hosted by India. India is the birthplace of Buddha and has a unique advantage in spreading the culture of Buddhism across the world. Events such as Buddha Purnima, which commemorates Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and nirvana, can be used as a platform to promote Buddhist teachings and practices.

WATCH | Have British schools become breeding grounds for Anti-Hindu hate?

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Through events like these, India can showcase its rich Buddhist heritage and encourage people from all over the world to visit the country and explore its Buddhist sites. By leveraging its Buddhist legacy, the country can also play a major role in promoting peace, compassion, and mindfulness globally.

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Tibetan spiritual guru Dalai Lama on Friday attended the Global Buddhist Summit, a two-day event hosted by India in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBS) on 20 and 21 April.

Tibetan spiritual guru Dalai Lama on Friday attended the Global Buddhist Summit, a two-day event hosted by India in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBS) on 20 and 21 April. Dalai Lama spoke for a length of about thirty minutes to a group of monks and other delegates who had assembled here on day 2 of the gathering, according to PTI news agency citing sources. In his address, the spiritual guru highlighted the ideals and philosophy of Buddhism. ''In his nearly half-an-hour address, the Tibetan spiritual leader spoke of compassion, wisdom and meditation,'' a source told PTI. Dalai Lama said that these are three ideals which are central to the philosophy and teachings of Lord Buddha. There was no confirmation of the Dalai Lama's visit. He was issued an invitation to the event, organisers said on Monday during a news conference. However, it had not been determined if he would attend. On Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at the opening session of the groundbreaking summit. PM Modi during his address mentioned the challenges posed by the present times. His address figured concerns including war, climate change, economic instability, terrorism and religious extremism. Also Read | North Korea hits back at G7, says position as nuclear state 'final and irreversible' The prime minister said that these challenges can be overcome with the help of Lord Buddha's teachings. There are two parts to the summit. One is academic session and the other one is Sangha session. The inaugural session was open for the media to attend however, the second session was not. Early on Friday morning, a government-in-exile official from the Central Tibetan Administration, also known as the CTA, informed PTI that "His Holiness will attend the event." The conference is being hosted at The Ashok Hotel in New Delhi. Also Read | Russian recruitment ad calling for 'real men' to fight in Ukraine It is a first-of-its-kind summit hosted by India. India is the birthplace of Buddha and has a unique advantage in spreading the culture of Buddhism across the world. Events such as Buddha Purnima, which commemorates Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and nirvana, can be used as a platform to promote Buddhist teachings and practices. WATCH | Have British schools become breeding grounds for Anti-Hindu hate? × Through events like these, India can showcase its rich Buddhist heritage and encourage people from all over the world to visit the country and explore its Buddhist sites. By leveraging its Buddhist legacy, the country can also play a major role in promoting peace, compassion, and mindfulness globally. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Dalai Lama attends Global Buddhist Summit hosted by India, speaks of compassion, wisdom and meditation

India is at the brink of hitting a breathtaking milestone, as at 1.4286 billion it stands at the cusp of becoming the most populous country in the world surpassing China. While India's population is relatively young and growing, china's is aging and shrinking. according to UNFPA's report, 8 billion lives, infinite possibilities. India will become the most populous country in the world by the end of this month.

India becomes home to nearly a fifth of humanity | WION Pulse

The United Nations Security Council, the United Nations own website says 'it is the responsibility of this council to maintain International peace'. But the question is this that will it live up to its own expectations?

The never-changing UNSC: Why no permanent UNSC seat for India? | World News | WION

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the Global Buddhist Summit in Delhi. The two-day Summit is being hosted by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).

Indian PM Modi addresses inaugural session of Global Buddhist Summit

As United States and China see their ties fall apart, Apple is interestingly turning geopolitics onto its side and in the latest attempt to try and woo India, the Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook met with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tim Cook meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi | World News | WION

India is organising its first global Buddhist summit. The event saw many major Buddhist figures of contemporary times participating in the same. WION spoke to the head master of south Korea's Buddhist society, Ponyum Sunim, Who is also the chairman, founder and guiding dharma master of the Jungto society.

S. Korea's Ven. Pomnyun Sunim speaks to WION

Jamtara city in the Indian state of Jharkhand has recently gained notoriety for being a hub of organised cybercrime activities, particularly in the form of phishing scams.&nbsp;The Jamtara fraud involves a group of scammers who pose as representatives of legitimate companies. Often they fake being employees with banks or insurance firms.

Under this guise, they trick unsuspecting individuals into revealing their personal and financial information, such as bank account numbers, passwords, and credit card details. The scammers then use this information to carry out fraudulent transactions, such as making unauthorised purchases or transferring money out of the victim's accounts.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jfks-nephew-robert-kennedy-jr-announces-2024-presidential-bid-at-campaign-launch-event-584213">JFK's nephew Robert Kennedy Jr announces 2024 presidential bid at campaign launch event</a>

The Jamtara fraudsters often use tactics such as social engineering, where they build rapport with the victim and convince them to trust them. In recent years, the Jamtara-styled fraudsters have become operational in other parts of India as well. It has been a major concern for law enforcement agencies in India, and there have been several efforts to crack down on these scammers and dismantle their operations.

In the latest, the Delhi Police arrested six people from Jamtara for conning over 2,500 individuals in India of Rs 1 crore via customer care centres. The accused people would publish their cellphone numbers as customer service numbers for the majority of the banks. People looking for customer service information for banks or online retailers would often then come across the provided fake numbers and become a victim of cyber fraud.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-intense-burst-of-light-in-skies-over-kyiv-triggers-panic-in-conflict-ridden-ukraine-584226">Mysterious flash of light over Kyiv triggers panic in conflict-ridden Ukraine</a>

According to police, the accused reportedly employed mirroring software to gain access to the victims' registered cell phones in order to steal money.

The suspects impersonated customer service personnel for many reputable banks and online retailers. Authorities claimed to have found 12,500 pre-activated SIM cards that had been given to scammers in Jamtara from West Bengal's Murshidabad city for over a year.

Watch | India becomes home to nearly a fifth of humanity&nbsp;

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According to DCP (Outer North) Ravi Kumar Singh, the issue came to light when a complainant from Dubai travelled to Delhi to see his daughter. He used Google to look for the customer service number to update his daughter's bank passbook.&nbsp;

“His location was shared with the accused and the net banking page was opened. The accused forwarded the call to a person posing as a senior executive and remotely got access to the mobile phone and made two transactions of Rs 9,50,000 and Rs 50,000 from the account. A case of cheating was lodged and investigation was taken up," reported Indian Express quoting DCP Singh.&nbsp;

“It was found that the accused used the call forwarding method and kept changing Google web page customer phone numbers to hide their locations. The phone numbers and IMEI were analysed and it has been noticed that these persons were carrying out cyber fraud in an organised and professional manner on a pan India basis,” the DCP added.

On April 11, a raid was carried out in the Jamtara village of Nawadih as part of the ongoing investigation into the case. Six persons were detained, and 25 mobile phones with fraudulent SIM cards and incriminating data were recovered.

“During the call, the accused would pose as a customer care official. They would get a sharing or mirroring application installed in the victim’s device with the prefix coinciding with the bank name such as SBI ANYDESK, and once they got the application installed, they would siphon off the money,” he said. “A fraudster would keep three to four smart mobile phones and choose a remote place in Nawadih village…where police access is difficult,” added the DCP.

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Jamtara city in the Indian state of Jharkhand has recently gained notoriety for being a hub of organised cybercrime activities, particularly in the form of phishing scams.

Jamtara city in the Indian state of Jharkhand has recently gained notoriety for being a hub of organised cybercrime activities, particularly in the form of phishing scams. The Jamtara fraud involves a group of scammers who pose as representatives of legitimate companies. Often they fake being employees with banks or insurance firms. Under this guise, they trick unsuspecting individuals into revealing their personal and financial information, such as bank account numbers, passwords, and credit card details. The scammers then use this information to carry out fraudulent transactions, such as making unauthorised purchases or transferring money out of the victim's accounts. Also Read | JFK's nephew Robert Kennedy Jr announces 2024 presidential bid at campaign launch event The Jamtara fraudsters often use tactics such as social engineering, where they build rapport with the victim and convince them to trust them. In recent years, the Jamtara-styled fraudsters have become operational in other parts of India as well. It has been a major concern for law enforcement agencies in India, and there have been several efforts to crack down on these scammers and dismantle their operations. In the latest, the Delhi Police arrested six people from Jamtara for conning over 2,500 individuals in India of Rs 1 crore via customer care centres. The accused people would publish their cellphone numbers as customer service numbers for the majority of the banks. People looking for customer service information for banks or online retailers would often then come across the provided fake numbers and become a victim of cyber fraud. Also Read | Mysterious flash of light over Kyiv triggers panic in conflict-ridden Ukraine According to police, the accused reportedly employed mirroring software to gain access to the victims' registered cell phones in order to steal money. The suspects impersonated customer service personnel for many reputable banks and online retailers. Authorities claimed to have found 12,500 pre-activated SIM cards that had been given to scammers in Jamtara from West Bengal's Murshidabad city for over a year. Watch | India becomes home to nearly a fifth of humanity × According to DCP (Outer North) Ravi Kumar Singh, the issue came to light when a complainant from Dubai travelled to Delhi to see his daughter. He used Google to look for the customer service number to update his daughter's bank passbook. “His location was shared with the accused and the net banking page was opened. The accused forwarded the call to a person posing as a senior executive and remotely got access to the mobile phone and made two transactions of Rs 9,50,000 and Rs 50,000 from the account. A case of cheating was lodged and investigation was taken up," reported Indian Express quoting DCP Singh. “It was found that the accused used the call forwarding method and kept changing Google web page customer phone numbers to hide their locations. The phone numbers and IMEI were analysed and it has been noticed that these persons were carrying out cyber fraud in an organised and professional manner on a pan India basis,” the DCP added. On April 11, a raid was carried out in the Jamtara village of Nawadih as part of the ongoing investigation into the case. Six persons were detained, and 25 mobile phones with fraudulent SIM cards and incriminating data were recovered. “During the call, the accused would pose as a customer care official. They would get a sharing or mirroring application installed in the victim’s device with the prefix coinciding with the bank name such as SBI ANYDESK, and once they got the application installed, they would siphon off the money,” he said. “A fraudster would keep three to four smart mobile phones and choose a remote place in Nawadih village…where police access is difficult,” added the DCP. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

What is 'Jamtara' fraud in Indian state of Jharkhand? Cybercrooks con 2,500 more

Startup ecosystem faces funding crunch in 2023. Startups funding in the US market dropped by around half to $32.5 billion in the first quarter, while in China it fell 60% to $5.6 billion. The problem is not limited to the US and China. A report by CB Insights indicates severe worries for Indian startups as well.

Startup crisis in India impacts growth

In an apparent bid to delay the elections in Punjab, Pakistan's defence ministry in a report to the supreme court says that India's spy agency R&AW plans to exploit fault lines of the country. Islamabad also fears more attacks by the Pakistan Taliban. The claim is seen as an excuse to delay the elections in the Punjab province, as they fear the growing popularity of Imran Khan.

'India can attack us': Pak terrified, cites 'Indian threat' in report to SC

Islamabad fears an all-out war with India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi today (April 20). The summit is being organized by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with its grantee body International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).

Indian PM Modi to inaugurate first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi

India, Russia, China, Brazil and South Africa form one of the world’s most important economic blocs. As per UN data, the BRICS grouping represents more than one-quarter of global GDP; and 42% of the world’s population. Significantly, the BRICS have seen their economic influence increase over the past decades, as drivers of global growth, trade and investment. South Africa's BRICS Sherpa, Anil Sooklal, spoke to our principal diplomatic correspondent on India's role. He also spoke about the conflicts in Asia and Africa.

India's role in BRICS: Grouping represents over one-quarter of global GDP & 42% of world population

Pakistan raises bogey of all-out war with India

Instead of performing the entire process of assembling and integrating a spacefaring rocket at a single facility, what if you could split up the work among two facilities and do it faster? This is the same approach that ISRO has followed for readying its most-reliable rocket for the PSLV-C55 mission that has been scheduled for launch on Saturday, April 22.

In its 57th&nbsp;flight, the PSLV will be carrying two satellites from Singapore. TeLEOS-2, an all-weather, day-night imaging satellite that is meant for use by the Singapore Government and Lumelite-4, a satellite built by academia from Singapore are to be placed in orbit.&nbsp;

Assembling and integrating a launch vehicle is a tedious and time-consuming process that requires&nbsp; significant manpower. Depending on the size of the rocket, the integration procedure could take anywhere between a week to three months.

For instance, ISRO's newest rocket SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) is designed for quick assembly and integration, it can be done within a week. However, the larger rockets such as PSLV and GSLV would need anywhere between 30 to 60 days to be assembled and integrated, by hundreds of personnel.&nbsp;

Generally, ISRO assembles the PSLV rocket at the launchpad, with the support of a Mobile Service Tower. This meant that the launchpad would remain occupied for the entire duration of the rocket's assembly and integration.

When launchpads are occupied for so long and the assembly of rockets can be done only at the launchpad, fewer launches are carried out. This means loss of time and money(the potential revenue that can be earned by performing more commercial launches).&nbsp;

For the latest launch, WION has learnt that ISRO operationalized a new PSLV Integration Facility(PIF), where the first and second stage of the four-stage PSLV rocket can be integrated and kept ready. This means that half the rocket is ready, even before it can be taken to the launchpad.

Therefore, only the third and fourth stage and satellites have to be integrated at the launchpad and it would significantly reduce the time period that the launchpad is occupied. Owing to the PIF, PSLV first and second stages can be kept ready and as and when required, ISRO would be able to increase the frequency of launch of&nbsp; its smaller vehicles like SSLV and PSLV.&nbsp;

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Instead of performing the entire process of assembling and integrating a spacefaring rocket at a single facility, what if you could split up the work among two facilities and do it faster?

Instead of performing the entire process of assembling and integrating a spacefaring rocket at a single facility, what if you could split up the work among two facilities and do it faster? This is the same approach that ISRO has followed for readying its most-reliable rocket for the PSLV-C55 mission that has been scheduled for launch on Saturday, April 22. In its 57th flight, the PSLV will be carrying two satellites from Singapore. TeLEOS-2, an all-weather, day-night imaging satellite that is meant for use by the Singapore Government and Lumelite-4, a satellite built by academia from Singapore are to be placed in orbit. Assembling and integrating a launch vehicle is a tedious and time-consuming process that requires significant manpower. Depending on the size of the rocket, the integration procedure could take anywhere between a week to three months. For instance, ISRO's newest rocket SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) is designed for quick assembly and integration, it can be done within a week. However, the larger rockets such as PSLV and GSLV would need anywhere between 30 to 60 days to be assembled and integrated, by hundreds of personnel. Generally, ISRO assembles the PSLV rocket at the launchpad, with the support of a Mobile Service Tower. This meant that the launchpad would remain occupied for the entire duration of the rocket's assembly and integration. When launchpads are occupied for so long and the assembly of rockets can be done only at the launchpad, fewer launches are carried out. This means loss of time and money(the potential revenue that can be earned by performing more commercial launches). For the latest launch, WION has learnt that ISRO operationalized a new PSLV Integration Facility(PIF), where the first and second stage of the four-stage PSLV rocket can be integrated and kept ready. This means that half the rocket is ready, even before it can be taken to the launchpad. Therefore, only the third and fourth stage and satellites have to be integrated at the launchpad and it would significantly reduce the time period that the launchpad is occupied. Owing to the PIF, PSLV first and second stages can be kept ready and as and when required, ISRO would be able to increase the frequency of launch of its smaller vehicles like SSLV and PSLV. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: ISRO can now assemble and launch PSLV rockets faster. Here's how

The US is providing assistance to India to counter its adversary China on the border areas and also develop defence industrial base, a top American commander has said, adding that Washington and New Delhi faced the same security challenge from Beijing in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region.

India, US facing same security threat from China, says top US Indo-Pacific commander

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news, top headlines and international breakings from all across the globe, stay tuned with Gravitas for more!

Gravitas Global Headlines | China's supersonic drone: Will it be spying on India and Taiwan?

Gopal Rai, the environment minister, announced on Wednesday (April 19), that the Delhi government planned to offer free saplings and pots to residents' doorsteps in order to increase the amount of greenery in the capital.

In an interview, he told PTI that a team is being formed to identify plant species that have a high mortality rate after transplantation and to determine the impact of the soil type and other factors on the relocated trees in an effort to increase their survival rate.

The green cover of Delhi has increased from 21.88 to 23.06 per cent of its geographic area, according to the most recent India State of Forest Report.

Rai noted, however, that the government is preparing other methods, including urban farming, to increase the amount of greenery.

"The forest department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi are going to launch a pilot project to provide plants and pots free of cost to people at their doorsteps," he said.&nbsp;

"We are conducting a ward-wise survey, asking people what type of plants they want. A survey is underway in one ward in my assembly constituency (Babarpur in northeast Delhi)," he added.&nbsp;

In Delhi, there are roughly 10,000 residences per ward.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;India records 12,591 new Covid cases in a day, highest in around 8 months

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/data-lab-making-sense-of-indias-forest-cover-change-both-gains-and-losses-579663">Data Lab: Making sense of India's forest cover change, both gains and losses</a>

Accordingly, more plans to give people in other places plants and pots would be set up, Rai said, adding "if the project is successful, we will be able to create an alternative green belt."

Small plants are simpler to maintain and use fewer resources than larger ones, say specialists on biodiversity. According to them, this makes smaller plants a more sustainable option for boosting the amount of greenery in particular places.

The environment minister for Delhi claimed that some species have very low survival rates and that some soil types are not suitable for transplanting trees.

Only 33.33 per cent of the 16,461 trees that were transplanted in Delhi over the previous three years have survived, according to data that the forest department submitted to the Delhi High Court in May of last year.

Due to the Delhi government's tree transplantation policy, the affected agencies are required to relocate at least 80 per cent&nbsp;of the trees impacted by their development activities. After a year after transplantation, the benchmark tree survival rate is 80 per cent.

As noted by Rai, the Delhi government has successfully reduced air pollution to a significant degree and is currently focusing on a smaller scale, "trying to ascertain which sources are contributing to air pollution under what conditions."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Gopal Rai, the environment minister, announced on Wednesday (April 19), that the Delhi government planned to offer free saplings and pots to residents' doorsteps in order to increase the amount of greenery in the capital.

Gopal Rai, the environment minister, announced on Wednesday (April 19), that the Delhi government planned to offer free saplings and pots to residents' doorsteps in order to increase the amount of greenery in the capital. In an interview, he told PTI that a team is being formed to identify plant species that have a high mortality rate after transplantation and to determine the impact of the soil type and other factors on the relocated trees in an effort to increase their survival rate. The green cover of Delhi has increased from 21.88 to 23.06 per cent of its geographic area, according to the most recent India State of Forest Report. Rai noted, however, that the government is preparing other methods, including urban farming, to increase the amount of greenery. "The forest department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi are going to launch a pilot project to provide plants and pots free of cost to people at their doorsteps," he said. "We are conducting a ward-wise survey, asking people what type of plants they want. A survey is underway in one ward in my assembly constituency (Babarpur in northeast Delhi)," he added. In Delhi, there are roughly 10,000 residences per ward. ALSO WATCH | India records 12,591 new Covid cases in a day, highest in around 8 months ALSO READ | Data Lab: Making sense of India's forest cover change, both gains and losses Accordingly, more plans to give people in other places plants and pots would be set up, Rai said, adding "if the project is successful, we will be able to create an alternative green belt." Small plants are simpler to maintain and use fewer resources than larger ones, say specialists on biodiversity. According to them, this makes smaller plants a more sustainable option for boosting the amount of greenery in particular places. The environment minister for Delhi claimed that some species have very low survival rates and that some soil types are not suitable for transplanting trees. Only 33.33 per cent of the 16,461 trees that were transplanted in Delhi over the previous three years have survived, according to data that the forest department submitted to the Delhi High Court in May of last year. Due to the Delhi government's tree transplantation policy, the affected agencies are required to relocate at least 80 per cent of the trees impacted by their development activities. After a year after transplantation, the benchmark tree survival rate is 80 per cent. As noted by Rai, the Delhi government has successfully reduced air pollution to a significant degree and is currently focusing on a smaller scale, "trying to ascertain which sources are contributing to air pollution under what conditions." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Delhi government to offer free plants at doorstep in bid to promote greenery. Details here

India is hosting the two-day Global Buddhist Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the summit in New Delhi. Delegates, monks and scholars from 30 nations are participating in this global summit.

India hosts two-day Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi

Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will attend SCO meet in Goa, India. The meeting will take place on May 2023. SCO focuses on cooperation with international and regional organizations. SCO has 8 member states, 4 observer states, and 6 'dialogue partners'.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto to attend SCO meeting in Goa, India

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