Is it true that NITI Aayog, an Indian policy think-tank, has released information with regard to the privatisation of Indian banks? As per multiple reports, the so-called list enlists banks which will be kept out of the privatisation process and some other information about the upcoming plans on the same.&nbsp;Two banks and one general insurance company may be privatised in the future, as per the circulated news. Before getting clarity on whether the news is correct or not, let us look at its background of it. The government consolidated four out of ten banks in August 2019, reducing the country's overall number of public sector banks from 27 to 12.&nbsp;

The Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank were merged into PNB, according the proposal. Canara Bank and&nbsp;Syndicate Bank were consolidated.&nbsp;Union Bank was consolidated with&nbsp;Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank. The merger of Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank also took effect on 1 April, 2020.

<h2>So will State Bank of India be privatised?&nbsp;</h2>

According to the circulated news, Punjab National Bank, Union Bank, Canara Bank, State Bank of India, Indian Bank and Bank of Baroda will not be privatised. Moreover, the circulated news also said that none of the banks that were there in the consolidation process is eligible to participate in the privatisation process.&nbsp;The Indian government has set a current disinvestment objective for FY22 of Rs. 1.75 lakh crore.&nbsp;

<h2>All India Radio Service clears air</h2>

According to All India Radio Service, NITI Aayog has denied releasing any list of banks which are to be privatised.

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NITI Aayog says that a fictitious message is being circulated in media regarding list shared by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NITIAayog?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NITIAayog</a> on privatization of Public Sector Banks. It clarifies that no such list has been shared by <a href="https://twitter.com/NITIAayog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NITIAayog</a> in any form. <a href="https://t.co/Ga9kbdmRNr">pic.twitter.com/Ga9kbdmRNr</a>
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) <a href="https://twitter.com/airnewsalerts/status/1611222380533383168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Taking to Twitter, the Indian Public Service Broadcaster, wrote, "NITI Aayog says that a fictitious message is being circulated in media regarding list shared by #NITIAayog on privatization of Public Sector Banks. It clarifies that no such list has been shared by&nbsp;@NITIAayog&nbsp;in any form."&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Is it true that NITI Aayog, an Indian policy think-tank, has released information with regard to the privatisation of Indian banks? As per multiple reports, the so-called list enlists banks which will be kept out of the privatisation process and some other information about the upcoming plans on the same.

Is it true that NITI Aayog, an Indian policy think-tank, has released information with regard to the privatisation of Indian banks? As per multiple reports, the so-called list enlists banks which will be kept out of the privatisation process and some other information about the upcoming plans on the same. Two banks and one general insurance company may be privatised in the future, as per the circulated news. Before getting clarity on whether the news is correct or not, let us look at its background of it. The government consolidated four out of ten banks in August 2019, reducing the country's overall number of public sector banks from 27 to 12. The Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank were merged into PNB, according the proposal. Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank were consolidated. Union Bank was consolidated with Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank. The merger of Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank also took effect on 1 April, 2020. So will State Bank of India be privatised? According to the circulated news, Punjab National Bank, Union Bank, Canara Bank, State Bank of India, Indian Bank and Bank of Baroda will not be privatised. Moreover, the circulated news also said that none of the banks that were there in the consolidation process is eligible to participate in the privatisation process. The Indian government has set a current disinvestment objective for FY22 of Rs. 1.75 lakh crore. All India Radio Service clears air According to All India Radio Service, NITI Aayog has denied releasing any list of banks which are to be privatised. NITI Aayog says that a fictitious message is being circulated in media regarding list shared by #NITIAayog on privatization of Public Sector Banks. It clarifies that no such list has been shared by @NITIAayog in any form. pic.twitter.com/Ga9kbdmRNr — All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) January 6, 2023 × Taking to Twitter, the Indian Public Service Broadcaster, wrote, "NITI Aayog says that a fictitious message is being circulated in media regarding list shared by #NITIAayog on privatization of Public Sector Banks. It clarifies that no such list has been shared by @NITIAayog in any form."

DEBUNKED: Did NITI Aayog release a list of Indian banks for privatisation?

Indian cricket team captain Hardik Pandya was not a pleased man after his side surrendered the advantage in the series on Thursday. Pandya was especially not happy with the bowlers and pointed at Arshdeep Singh to get his basics right.

Indian cricket team captain Hardik Pandya was not a pleased man after his side surrendered the advantage in the series on Thursday. Pandya was especially not happy with the bowlers and pointed at Arshdeep Singh to get his basics right. During the post-match presentation ceremony, Pandya reflected on the extras bowled by his bowlers and called the players to tighten up their basics of the game. "Going for runs is fine but no balls aren't. Not blaming or being hard but he (Arshdeep) needs to go back and make sure these basic errors don't happen at this level. It's not about blaming but no ball is a crime," Pandya told Murli Kartik. The left-arm medium pacer had an off day in the field as he bowled as many as five no-balls during his two-over spell. Singh leaked 37 runs and became the first bowler in T20I history to bowl three no-balls on the trot. "Both bowling and batting - powerplay hurt us. We made basic errors which we shouldn't do at this level. Learning should be the basics we can control. You can have a bad day but shouldn't be going away from basics," added Pandya. Read more: IND vs SL 2023, 2nd T20I: Sri Lanka narrowly escape Axar Patel's late blitz to level series in Pune India were scratchy from the beginning after putting the visitors to bat first at the MCA Stadium in June. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis put on an 80-run partnership in under nine overs before Chahal made the first breakthrough. After the wicket, India managed to claw their way back into the game as the Sri Lankan innings appeared going nowhere at the end of the 16th over as the scoreboard read 138/6. However, skipper Dasun Shanaka stepped onto the plate and single-handedly changed the course of the match. Striking at 254.55, the right-handed batter smoked six sixes and two fours en-route to his 22-ball 56. Courtesy of his magnificent knock, Sri Lanka managed a steep-looking score of 206 for six in 20 overs. Chasing the total, India got off to the worst possible start four wickets fell in the powerplay. Despite a salvo from Axar Patel at the fag end of the innings, India fell short of the target by 16 runs. Read more: EXCLUSIVE - Right people around me helped me taste success – Varun Kapur, ex-World No 1 in Junior Rankings The decider of the series will be played in Rajkot on Saturday, January 7th. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'He needs to go back...': Hardik Pandya has advice for this bowler after loss against Sri Lanka

India and France will hold the 36th strategic dialogue in Delhi on Thursday for which French President Emmanuel Macron's diplomatic advisor and G20/G7 Sherpa Emmanuel Bonne will be in the Indian capital. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will lead the Indian side having travelled to Paris in 2021 for the last iteration of the dialogue.

The annual dialogue will focus on issues like Indo-Pacific, Afghanistan, G20, defence cooperation, counter-terrorism, and other issues.

Bonne is the first foreign official to travel to Delhi in 2023, a year that will see India host&nbsp;big-ticket summits like the G20 and SCO.

The fact that he is also France's G20 sherpa means a key focus will be on the Indian presidency of the grouping. India as the president of the grouping will hold the summit later this year in September.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-to-inaugurate-infra-projects-in-arunachal-pradesh-548827">Read more:&nbsp;India: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to inaugurate infra projects in Arunachal Pradesh</a>

In his day-long visit, Bonne is expected to meet other top officials as well. The 52 years old top French diplomat was in Delhi in 2021 and called on PM Modi.

The visit comes in a year when the French President is also expected to visit India and which marks the 25th anniversary of the Indo-French strategic partnership, launched in 1998.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-what-can-india-do-as-g20-president-548191">WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: What can India do as G20 President?</a>

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Defence cooperation, space cooperation and civil nuclear cooperation constitute the three principal pillars of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Ahead of the visit, both sides have also been discussing ways to speed up the setting up of the civilian nuclear power reactors at Jaitapur, Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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India and France will hold the 36th strategic dialogue in Delhi on Thursday for which French President Emmanuel Macron's diplomatic advisor and G20/G7 Sherpa Emmanuel Bonne will be in the Indian capital.

India and France will hold the 36th strategic dialogue in Delhi on Thursday for which French President Emmanuel Macron's diplomatic advisor and G20/G7 Sherpa Emmanuel Bonne will be in the Indian capital. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will lead the Indian side having travelled to Paris in 2021 for the last iteration of the dialogue. The annual dialogue will focus on issues like Indo-Pacific, Afghanistan, G20, defence cooperation, counter-terrorism, and other issues. Bonne is the first foreign official to travel to Delhi in 2023, a year that will see India host big-ticket summits like the G20 and SCO. The fact that he is also France's G20 sherpa means a key focus will be on the Indian presidency of the grouping. India as the president of the grouping will hold the summit later this year in September. Read more: India: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to inaugurate infra projects in Arunachal Pradesh In his day-long visit, Bonne is expected to meet other top officials as well. The 52 years old top French diplomat was in Delhi in 2021 and called on PM Modi. The visit comes in a year when the French President is also expected to visit India and which marks the 25th anniversary of the Indo-French strategic partnership, launched in 1998. WATCH | Gravitas: What can India do as G20 President? × Defence cooperation, space cooperation and civil nuclear cooperation constitute the three principal pillars of the strategic partnership between the two countries. Ahead of the visit, both sides have also been discussing ways to speed up the setting up of the civilian nuclear power reactors at Jaitapur, Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

French president's diplomatic advisor Bonne travels to Delhi to take part in Indo-France strategic dialogue

An&nbsp;earthquake&nbsp;of 5.9 magnitude struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Thursday whose tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR, the epicentre&nbsp;being Hindu Kush region, according to National Center for Seismology (NCS).&nbsp;NCS is the nodal agency of the Government of India for monitoring earthquake activity in the country. As per the readings from the centre, an earthquake measuring 5.9&nbsp;occurred in the Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan at around 7:55 pm IST on Thursday.&nbsp; 
 
The depth of the earthquake was 200 km below the ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Earthquake of Magnitude:5.9, Occurred on 05-01-2023, 19:55:51 IST, Lat: 36.39 &amp; Long: 70.66, Depth: 200 Km ,Location: 79km S of Fayzabad, Afghanistan for more information Download the BhooKamp App <a href="https://t.co/NNNsRSzym0">https://t.co/NNNsRSzym0</a><a href="https://twitter.com/Ravi_MoES?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ravi_MoES</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Dr_Mishra1966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dr_Mishra1966</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ndmaindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ndmaindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Indiametdept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Indiametdept</a> <a href="https://t.co/Um0iJGWieT">pic.twitter.com/Um0iJGWieT</a>
— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCS_Earthquake/status/1611009855237816322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Earlier, on January 1, an earthquake measuring&nbsp;3.8 hit the Delhi-NCR region with its epicentre in Haryana.

(With inputs from agencies)

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An earthquake of 5.9 magnitude struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Thursday whose tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR, the epicentre being Hindu Kush region, according to National Center for Seismology (NCS).

An earthquake of 5.9 magnitude struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Thursday whose tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR, the epicentre being Hindu Kush region, according to National Center for Seismology (NCS). NCS is the nodal agency of the Government of India for monitoring earthquake activity in the country. As per the readings from the centre, an earthquake measuring 5.9 occurred in the Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan at around 7:55 pm IST on Thursday. The depth of the earthquake was 200 km below the ground. Earthquake of Magnitude:5.9, Occurred on 05-01-2023, 19:55:51 IST, Lat: 36.39 & Long: 70.66, Depth: 200 Km ,Location: 79km S of Fayzabad, Afghanistan for more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/NNNsRSzym0@Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia @Indiametdept pic.twitter.com/Um0iJGWieT — National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) January 5, 2023 × Earlier, on January 1, an earthquake measuring 3.8 hit the Delhi-NCR region with its epicentre in Haryana. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Tremors felt in Delhi-NCR after 5.9 magnitude earthquake strikes Afghanistan

The 36th India-France strategic dialogue has begun in New Delhi. The talks are led respectively by India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Diplomatic Advisor to French President Emmanuel Bonne. Watch to know more.

WION Dispatch: India, France holds strategic dialogue in New Delhi

As the cold wave tightened its grip over parts of northern India, New Delhi on Thursday (January 05) reported the coldest day of the season.

India: New Delhi records the coldest day of the season

Several experts have expressed concerns that Nepal would now turn pro-China under the new Prachanda-Oli alliance. But if one examines closely, there are few catches and subtleties to it. &nbsp;

WION spoke to experts on Nepalese politics, including former ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae. &nbsp;

How will the new Prachanda-Oli alliance impact India-Nepal relations?&nbsp;

In a conversation with WION, former Indian envoy to Nepal, Ranjit Rae said India and Nepal have very “comprehensive, strong and ancient relationship” which is not just between the governments but also between the people. He said India has to work with whichever government is in power in Nepal because both countries have economic and security interests with each other. &nbsp;

So are the apprehensions that Nepal will turn anti-India unwarranted then? &nbsp;

Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy, an expert with the think tank ORF, opined that it is difficult to say if the current election results could drastically damage India-Nepal relations. &nbsp;

Shivamurthy said political stability inside Nepal is itself a challenge. &nbsp;

“The current coalition government is a compromise of various parties with very different ideologies. It is not difficult to suggest that internal cohesion and compromise will be a challenge in the coming days. The strong anti-Indian policy will also likely trigger more divisions within the coalition,” he pointed out. &nbsp;

Dr. Anshuman Behera, Associate professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, termed Nepal a kind of “paradox” with respect to its relations with India. &nbsp;

He pointed out that Nepalese people and the political elite want India to help Nepal but at the same time, they hold India responsible for all that is happening wrong. &nbsp;

“This is a very subtle but important mindset they have,” he said adding, “They (Nepal) have to do business with India because it is a landlocked country.”&nbsp;

South Asian nations today are displaying more agency than they ever did, Shivamurthy said in regards to China-Nepal alliance.&nbsp;

However, he also cautioned that it is pivotal that they maintain balance. &nbsp;

This will likely shape how Nepal-China relations will factor in India. “They might muster anti-Indian sentiments but they will also hesitate to cross the red lines,” he added. &nbsp;

WION Dispatch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-pushpa-kamal-dahal-prachanda-takes-oath-as-nepals-pm-for-third-time-546784">Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' takes oath as Nepal's PM for third time</a> 
&nbsp;

Anti-India rhetoric for domestic political gains&nbsp;

Dr. Behera, Ambassador Rae and Shivamurthy all agreed that Nepal's rhetoric against India is primarily helping leaders advance in their local political ambitions.&nbsp;

“In Nepal, all leaders play the anti-India card to become popular. Politically, it makes sense for leaders to say we can stand up to India. I am the stronger leader. Therefore, in every election, you have this kind of rhetoric. That is why when there is any issue in India, it is blown up in the Nepalese media,” said Rae. &nbsp;

“Oli highlights issues with India, for it has been easier to make domestic political gains by putting up a Goliath vs David story,” said Shivamurthy. &nbsp;

He remarked that cultural similarities and political relations with India only give this a political flavour as China on the other hand is a new player and might not be able to muster political and nationalist sentiments like India does. &nbsp;

Commenting over how domestic political gain&nbsp;is one of the most important reasons for Nepal’s anti-India rhetoric, Dr. Behera asked, “If not this, how do you create an euphoria in Nepal?”&nbsp;

“Domestic politics in Nepal is more and more conceived around anti-India and pro-India rhetoric because India does play an important role not in politics but also in the Nepal’s society, culture and religions,” he said. &nbsp; 
 
India-Nepal border issues &nbsp; 
 
Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh regions have remained sore points in India-Nepal relations. Ambassador Rae said that border issue has become very complicated as Nepal in its new map showed some Indian territories as its own.&nbsp;

“This map has been endorsed by two-thirds majority in the Nepalese parliament. I don’t think this is going to get resolved anytime soon,” he said. &nbsp;

Dr. Behera said India should not have apprehensions but at the same time it cannot relax as well. “There are concerns about territorial incursions that KP Oli brought in for a couple of years. If not anything, this is for India's territorial integrity.” &nbsp;

He said in the run-up to the elections, there was something very interesting happened this time. “For the first time, Chinese incursions were highlighted in the elections by Nepali Congress,” he said. &nbsp;

What is the future of US’ $500 million MCC project?&nbsp;

The US government aid agency had agreed in 2017 to provide USD 500 million in grants for cross-border electricity transmission and road connectivity to Nepal. This is known as Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). However, the project has been surrounded by Nepal's internal political conflicts with one party supporting the grant while others, not so much.&nbsp;

The relevance of balancing and agency display could also be seen here, said expert Shivamurthy. Under the government of Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal tried to build a broader political coalition to pass the MCC Act but how the new dispensation will react to the US will also depend on the extent of China's “elite capture” in the government, and the political stability of the government, he added.&nbsp;

If the project goes smoothly, it will benefit India as well. &nbsp;

How? Ex-envoy Rae explained that communist parties were opposed to MCC earlier as they thought it was anti-China and part of the Indo-Pacific strategy. &nbsp;

Now the communist parties are ruling the country. “I hope the implementation of this goes ahead smoothly as it is very important to building Nepal's productive capacity in terms of road infrastructure and transmission lines,” he elaborated. &nbsp;

Dr Behera explained that the one reason Oli was not supporting MCC was because he had a lot of corruption charges against him. “By negating MCC in the Nepalese parliament, Oli was trying to overshadow a lot of corruption charges that are there against him. So when the Nepali Congress came for a short stint they tried to push MCC.”&nbsp;

He also said that MCC will benefit Nepal’s economy. &nbsp;

Why Deuba was trying to push this was because following the pandemic in Nepal, the economy of Nepal was in a very bad shape. “$500 million boost would have actually supported Nepal's economy to a great extent.”&nbsp;

China’s interference in Nepal’s domestic affairs&nbsp;

In India, some policymakers and experts often feel Nepal will be taken over by China and Beijing has a very important role to play in Nepal. But many tend to forget that Nepal is an independent and sovereign country, said Dr. Behera. &nbsp;

On the other hand, he continued, some critics over-aspire that India should play an important role in Nepal's politics. “Both of them are mutually flawed. One has to understand that Nepal has an independent internal political balance,” he asserted. &nbsp;

Shivamurthy argued that this is not the first time that China has intervened in Nepal’s domestic affairs. “It had played a crucial role in bringing the communist alliance together when the divisions were at their peak during the last tenure. This election has a lot at stake for China after Deuba's tenure. Most of Beijing’s projects continue to be unimplemented yet. Beijing's role in bridging an alliance between two factions cannot be overruled,” he pointed out. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, Rae underscored that the Prachanda-Oli coalition is something that has been tried earlier with the help of Chinese support but had come to an end earlier.&nbsp;

Internal fighting and Prachanda’s political opportunism&nbsp;

“KP Oli is anti-India, if not completely unconditionally pro-China. At the same time, Prachanda's political opportunism does not give him the credentials of a seasoned politician to the extent that his own party's people, including ex-prime minister of Nepal, Baburam Bhattarai, walked out on Maoists,” Dr. Behera said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Prachanda and Oli were co-chairs of the unified CPM but the fallout between the two led to the division of the party and the eventual ouster of Oli as Prime Minister of Nepal. Now the friends-turned-foes are friends again.

On this, Dr. Behera said, “I have been following him (Prachanda). He is known to have deviated from any political ideology he claims to follow. There is this unholy alliance between CPM (Maoist) and UML but just remember that a year before, the same Prachanda withdrew from the communist alliance between KP Oli and the undivided UML and the CPM formed the government.” &nbsp;

“If one looks at this pre-election alliance, it takes Nepal politics to a different level of unethical political stand. Prachanda's government is going to survive going by the new constitution of Nepal and they cannot hold a no-confidence motion against him. But whether Prachanda will support Oli or not it is not sure.”

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Several experts have expressed concerns that Nepal would now turn pro-China under the new Prachanda-Oli alliance. But if one examines closely, there are few catches and subtleties to it.

Several experts have expressed concerns that Nepal would now turn pro-China under the new Prachanda-Oli alliance. But if one examines closely, there are few catches and subtleties to it. WION spoke to experts on Nepalese politics, including former ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae. How will the new Prachanda-Oli alliance impact India-Nepal relations? In a conversation with WION, former Indian envoy to Nepal, Ranjit Rae said India and Nepal have very “comprehensive, strong and ancient relationship” which is not just between the governments but also between the people. He said India has to work with whichever government is in power in Nepal because both countries have economic and security interests with each other. So are the apprehensions that Nepal will turn anti-India unwarranted then? Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy, an expert with the think tank ORF, opined that it is difficult to say if the current election results could drastically damage India-Nepal relations. Shivamurthy said political stability inside Nepal is itself a challenge. “The current coalition government is a compromise of various parties with very different ideologies. It is not difficult to suggest that internal cohesion and compromise will be a challenge in the coming days. The strong anti-Indian policy will also likely trigger more divisions within the coalition,” he pointed out. Dr. Anshuman Behera, Associate professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, termed Nepal a kind of “paradox” with respect to its relations with India. He pointed out that Nepalese people and the political elite want India to help Nepal but at the same time, they hold India responsible for all that is happening wrong. “This is a very subtle but important mindset they have,” he said adding, “They (Nepal) have to do business with India because it is a landlocked country.” South Asian nations today are displaying more agency than they ever did, Shivamurthy said in regards to China-Nepal alliance. However, he also cautioned that it is pivotal that they maintain balance. This will likely shape how Nepal-China relations will factor in India. “They might muster anti-Indian sentiments but they will also hesitate to cross the red lines,” he added. WION Dispatch: Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' takes oath as Nepal's PM for third time Anti-India rhetoric for domestic political gains Dr. Behera, Ambassador Rae and Shivamurthy all agreed that Nepal's rhetoric against India is primarily helping leaders advance in their local political ambitions. “In Nepal, all leaders play the anti-India card to become popular. Politically, it makes sense for leaders to say we can stand up to India. I am the stronger leader. Therefore, in every election, you have this kind of rhetoric. That is why when there is any issue in India, it is blown up in the Nepalese media,” said Rae. “Oli highlights issues with India, for it has been easier to make domestic political gains by putting up a Goliath vs David story,” said Shivamurthy. He remarked that cultural similarities and political relations with India only give this a political flavour as China on the other hand is a new player and might not be able to muster political and nationalist sentiments like India does. Commenting over how domestic political gain is one of the most important reasons for Nepal’s anti-India rhetoric, Dr. Behera asked, “If not this, how do you create an euphoria in Nepal?” “Domestic politics in Nepal is more and more conceived around anti-India and pro-India rhetoric because India does play an important role not in politics but also in the Nepal’s society, culture and religions,” he said. India-Nepal border issues Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh regions have remained sore points in India-Nepal relations. Ambassador Rae said that border issue has become very complicated as Nepal in its new map showed some Indian territories as its own. “This map has been endorsed by two-thirds majority in the Nepalese parliament. I don’t think this is going to get resolved anytime soon,” he said. Dr. Behera said India should not have apprehensions but at the same time it cannot relax as well. “There are concerns about territorial incursions that KP Oli brought in for a couple of years. If not anything, this is for India's territorial integrity.” He said in the run-up to the elections, there was something very interesting happened this time. “For the first time, Chinese incursions were highlighted in the elections by Nepali Congress,” he said. What is the future of US’ $500 million MCC project? The US government aid agency had agreed in 2017 to provide USD 500 million in grants for cross-border electricity transmission and road connectivity to Nepal. This is known as Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). However, the project has been surrounded by Nepal's internal political conflicts with one party supporting the grant while others, not so much. The relevance of balancing and agency display could also be seen here, said expert Shivamurthy. Under the government of Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal tried to build a broader political coalition to pass the MCC Act but how the new dispensation will react to the US will also depend on the extent of China's “elite capture” in the government, and the political stability of the government, he added. If the project goes smoothly, it will benefit India as well. How? Ex-envoy Rae explained that communist parties were opposed to MCC earlier as they thought it was anti-China and part of the Indo-Pacific strategy. Now the communist parties are ruling the country. “I hope the implementation of this goes ahead smoothly as it is very important to building Nepal's productive capacity in terms of road infrastructure and transmission lines,” he elaborated. Dr Behera explained that the one reason Oli was not supporting MCC was because he had a lot of corruption charges against him. “By negating MCC in the Nepalese parliament, Oli was trying to overshadow a lot of corruption charges that are there against him. So when the Nepali Congress came for a short stint they tried to push MCC.” He also said that MCC will benefit Nepal’s economy. Why Deuba was trying to push this was because following the pandemic in Nepal, the economy of Nepal was in a very bad shape. “$500 million boost would have actually supported Nepal's economy to a great extent.” China’s interference in Nepal’s domestic affairs In India, some policymakers and experts often feel Nepal will be taken over by China and Beijing has a very important role to play in Nepal. But many tend to forget that Nepal is an independent and sovereign country, said Dr. Behera. On the other hand, he continued, some critics over-aspire that India should play an important role in Nepal's politics. “Both of them are mutually flawed. One has to understand that Nepal has an independent internal political balance,” he asserted. Shivamurthy argued that this is not the first time that China has intervened in Nepal’s domestic affairs. “It had played a crucial role in bringing the communist alliance together when the divisions were at their peak during the last tenure. This election has a lot at stake for China after Deuba's tenure. Most of Beijing’s projects continue to be unimplemented yet. Beijing's role in bridging an alliance between two factions cannot be overruled,” he pointed out. Meanwhile, Rae underscored that the Prachanda-Oli coalition is something that has been tried earlier with the help of Chinese support but had come to an end earlier. Internal fighting and Prachanda’s political opportunism “KP Oli is anti-India, if not completely unconditionally pro-China. At the same time, Prachanda's political opportunism does not give him the credentials of a seasoned politician to the extent that his own party's people, including ex-prime minister of Nepal, Baburam Bhattarai, walked out on Maoists,” Dr. Behera said. Prachanda and Oli were co-chairs of the unified CPM but the fallout between the two led to the division of the party and the eventual ouster of Oli as Prime Minister of Nepal. Now the friends-turned-foes are friends again. On this, Dr. Behera said, “I have been following him (Prachanda). He is known to have deviated from any political ideology he claims to follow. There is this unholy alliance between CPM (Maoist) and UML but just remember that a year before, the same Prachanda withdrew from the communist alliance between KP Oli and the undivided UML and the CPM formed the government.” “If one looks at this pre-election alliance, it takes Nepal politics to a different level of unethical political stand. Prachanda's government is going to survive going by the new constitution of Nepal and they cannot hold a no-confidence motion against him. But whether Prachanda will support Oli or not it is not sure.” 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.

DECODING: What does Nepal’s new Prachanda-Oli coalition mean for India?

India has approved an incentive plan of $2.11 billion to promote green hydrogen in a bid to cut emissions and become a major exporter in the field.

WION Climate Tracker: India approves $2.11 billion incentive plan for green hydrogen industry

IND vs SL 2nd T20 Playing XI &amp; preview: The second Twenty20 encounter between India and the Sri Lanka Cricket Team will take place on January 5, 2023, on Thursday. The game will be contested at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, and it will begin at 7:00 PM. The match's toss will take place 30 minutes before to the start of the game, at 06:30 PM. Hardik Pandya will serve as the captain of the Indian squad in the game.

The complete India vs. Sri Lanka 2nd T20 Squad Players List can be seen here. For India, the T20 Captain is Hardik Pandya and for Sri Lanka, it is Dasun Shanaka.&nbsp;

<h2>When and Where to Watch IND vs SL 2nd T20 Live Streaming?</h2>

The live telecast for Indian Sri Lanka third Twenty20 encounter can be watched on Star Sports Network and Disney Hotstar. The match timings will be 7:00 PM.&nbsp;

IND vs SL 2nd T20 - Probable playing XI's at India vs Sri Lanka second T20&nbsp;&nbsp;

India playing XI: Shubman Gill, SA Yadav, HH Pandya(C), SV Samson, Shivam Mavi, Yuzvendra Chahal, HV Patel, Umran Malik,&nbsp;Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan

Sri Lanka playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, B Rajapaksa, C Asalanka, D Shanaka(C), M Theekshana, D Madushanka, K Rajitha,&nbsp;D de Silva, W Hasaranga, C Karunaratne, K Mendis

Where will IND vs SL 2nd T20&nbsp;be held? 
IND vs SL 2nd T20 will take place in&nbsp;Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, at 7:00 PM IST 
India from 5th Jan 2023.

When will IND vs SL 2023 2nd T20&nbsp;match be Started? – Date and Time 
&nbsp;IND vs SL 2nd T20 match will be played on 5th Jan 2023 at 7:00 PM IST

What are the venues for the IND vs SL 2nd T20? – Venue 
IND vs SL 2nd T20 will take place in&nbsp;Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune.

India vs Sri Lanka T20 Squad 2023

India vs Sri Lanka T20 India Squad 2023: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (Wicket Keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar,&nbsp;Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar

India vs Sri Lanka T20 Sri Lanka Squad 2023: Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Wanindu Hasaranga (Vice Captain), Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara,&nbsp;Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva

IND vs SL 2nd T20 Playing XI & preview: The second Twenty20 encounter between India and the Sri Lanka Cricket Team will take place on January 5, 2023, on Thursday.

IND vs SL 2nd T20 Playing XI & preview: The second Twenty20 encounter between India and the Sri Lanka Cricket Team will take place on January 5, 2023, on Thursday. The game will be contested at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, and it will begin at 7:00 PM. The match's toss will take place 30 minutes before to the start of the game, at 06:30 PM. Hardik Pandya will serve as the captain of the Indian squad in the game. The complete India vs. Sri Lanka 2nd T20 Squad Players List can be seen here. For India, the T20 Captain is Hardik Pandya and for Sri Lanka, it is Dasun Shanaka. When and Where to Watch IND vs SL 2nd T20 Live Streaming? The live telecast for Indian Sri Lanka third Twenty20 encounter can be watched on Star Sports Network and Disney Hotstar. The match timings will be 7:00 PM. IND vs SL 2nd T20 - Probable playing XI's at India vs Sri Lanka second T20 India playing XI: Shubman Gill, SA Yadav, HH Pandya(C), SV Samson, Shivam Mavi, Yuzvendra Chahal, HV Patel, Umran Malik, Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan Sri Lanka playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, B Rajapaksa, C Asalanka, D Shanaka(C), M Theekshana, D Madushanka, K Rajitha, D de Silva, W Hasaranga, C Karunaratne, K Mendis Where will IND vs SL 2nd T20 be held? IND vs SL 2nd T20 will take place in Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, at 7:00 PM IST India from 5th Jan 2023. When will IND vs SL 2023 2nd T20 match be Started? – Date and Time IND vs SL 2nd T20 match will be played on 5th Jan 2023 at 7:00 PM IST What are the venues for the IND vs SL 2nd T20? – Venue IND vs SL 2nd T20 will take place in Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. India vs Sri Lanka T20 Squad 2023 India vs Sri Lanka T20 India Squad 2023: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (Wicket Keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar India vs Sri Lanka T20 Sri Lanka Squad 2023: Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Wanindu Hasaranga (Vice Captain), Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva

IND vs SL 2nd T20 Playing XI & preview: India vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20 prediction, squad, date, time, live, venue

Russia is sending more crude oil produced in the Arctic region to India & China at steeper discounts. This after Europe slammed its doors shut on Russian supplies last month. Watch this video for all the details.

Why is Russia sending more Arctic oil to India & China?

India has approved an incentive plan of 174.9 billion rupees ($2.11 billion). The move is to promote green hydrogen in a bid to cut emissions & become its major exporter. Watch this video for all the details.

What is India's $2 billion incentive plan for the green hydrogen industry?

On this week's episode of The India Story, Vikram Chandra speaks to India's G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, on India's Presidency of the premier international forum. While India's Presidency comes in divided times, as war rages in Ukraine and financial crisis threatens to overtake the world, there is an opportunity to steer the globe in these trying times, and focus on the agenda of inclusive development. India's theme for G20 is 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - One World, One Future, One Family. We also speak to Yash Agarwal, Former Twitter Employee, on his viral exit from the social media company.

The India Story: Decoding India's G20 Presidency with Amitabh Kant

In what comes as astonishing news for the wildlife conservation projects in India, no rhinos were poached in the northeastern state of Assam in the 2022 calendar year.

In what comes as astonishing news for the wildlife conservation projects in India, no rhinos were poached in the northeastern state of Assam in the 2022 calendar year. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to share the celebratory news and said the 'gentle giant' was much safer in the state. "Zero Poaching! 2022 was really special for our rhino conservation efforts. Not a single rhino being poached in 2022 & just 2 in 2021, the gentle giant is now much safer in Assam. Kudos to @assamforest dept & @assampolice for their sincere efforts to protect the iconic animal," tweeted Sarma. Zero Poaching! 2022 was really special for our rhino conservation efforts. Not a single rhino being poached in 2022 & just 2 in 2021, the gentle giant is now much safer in Assam. Kudos to @assamforest dept & @assampolice for their sincere efforts to protect the iconic animal. pic.twitter.com/mVIHsD0xFe — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 2, 2023 × According to Special DGP G P Singh, the last poaching attempt was recorded on December 28, 2021. “Anti-Rhino poaching efforts have yielded spectacular results. There has been no rhino poaching in Assam in the year 2022. The last poaching was on Dec 28th, 2021 at Hilakunda, Kohora in the Golaghat district. We would strive to keep the graph flat,” said Singh. Anti Rhino poaching efforts have yielded spectacular results. There has been no rhino poaching in Assam in Year 2022. Last poaching was on Dec 28th 2021 at Hilakunda, kohora in Golaghat district. We would strive to keep the graph flat. @assampolice @assamforest @CMOfficeAssam pic.twitter.com/vfT4BPKECl — GP Singh (@gpsinghips) January 1, 2023 × The vulnerable species of Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is often poached for its unique horn which fetches thousands of dollars in the black market. The horn, which can grow up to 60 centimetres in size has medical value in certain countries while it is seen as a status symbol in others. As a result, the horn trade has been one of the major reasons for the poaching attempts. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: South African Rhino poaching drops; conservation efforts are paying off However, for the first time in nearly 45 years, the state has witnessed zero poaching incidents, setting a new standard for government agencies to follow. According to data, over 191 rhinos were poached between 2000 and 2021. The most number of rhinos were poached in 2013 and 2014 when the figure stood at 27. In 2020 and 2021, the number came down and only two rhinos were killed. The change was made possible after the state BJP government in 2019 decided to constitute a Special Rhino Protection Force to keep a close tab on poaching and its related activities, especially the Kaziranga National Park - home to these majestic creatures. The task force collated data, used past-poaching activities, and devised a plan that was used to target the poachers. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

STUNNING! Zero rhinos poached in the Indian state of Assam in nearly 45 years

Indian External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar lambasted China for trying to unilaterally change the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in an interview.

Gravitas Global Headlines | Jaishankar: China tried to change situation on LAC unilaterally

US President Joe Biden has renominated Eric Garcetti, the former Mayor of Los Angeles, as his envoy to India, with the White House exuding confidence that he would be confirmed by the United States Senate this time.

WION Dispatch: Biden renominates Eric Garcetti as US envoy to India

Supreme Court of India has ruled that no more restrictions other than those which are permissible under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution can be imposed on the free speech of the public functionaries. Article 19 (2) of the Indian Constitution authorises the government to impose by law resonable impositions on freedom of speech and expression.

India's top court on free speech of MPs, MLAs, says 'no more restrictions on free speech'

The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed multiple terror attacks at the beginning of the new year. Six civilians were killed and ten injured in the twin attacks at the Dangri Village of Rajouri district. In an IED blast earlier today, two children were killed while four more were injured at the same location where the terrorists attacked yesterday.

WION Dispatch | Jammu: Two child killed, several injured in blast in Rajouri region

China's new foreign minister, Qin Gang, seeks to improve ties with India. Whereas India has posed new challenges for China. Watch further to know more.

WION Dispatch: India flags 'intense' challenges for China's new Foreign Minister

The government of India is building "permanent vertical bunkers" for stationing BSF troops at the strategic location of Sir Creek and 'Harami Nalla' marshy area, close to the India-Pakistan International Border in Gujarat, said the official sources.&nbsp;

A Rs 50-crore fund has been approved by the Union Home Ministry for building the eight multi-storeyed bunkers cum observation posts keeping in mind the "constant infiltration of Pakistani fishermen and fishing boats in the area", said the sources to India-based news agency PTI.

As per the official information, 22 Pakistani fishermen were apprehended by the Border Security Force (BSF) and 79 fishing boats were seized along with heroin worth Rs 250 crore and charas worth Rs 2.49 crore from Gujarat in 2022.

ALSO READ| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-plans-to-introduce-bodies-for-regulating-online-gaming-industry-548830">India plans to introduce bodies for regulating online gaming industry</a>

The sources stated that three pylon-shaped towers are being built in the Sir Creek area, and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) will construct five such structures in a 4,050 sq km marshy area between the two countries and the 'harami nalla' area, which is spread across 900 sq km of area.

The officials stated that space will be provided at the top floor of every 42-foot high 'vertical bunker' for placing surveillance gadgets and radars to monitor the area that includes serpentine estuaries. The rest two floors of the bunkers will have the capacity to include 15 armed BSF personnel as well as their logistics, they said.

The officials said that the bunkers are being built in the Lakhpat Wari bet, Dafa bet and Samudra bet which fall on the eastern side of the creek, within the territory of India.&nbsp;

WATCH| WION Dispatch: India flags 'intense' challenges for China's new Foreign Minister

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A senior BSF officer said that armed protection is being provided by a BSF contingent to the labourers who are building three bunkers under the CPWD in the Sir Creek area and aiming to complete it by March. He added that the ocean is likely to get turbulent from April and hence, the work is progressing at war footing.

The decision of constructing the bunker was taken after BSF director general (DG) Pankaj Kumar Singh, while on a tour to the Gujarat border with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in April last year, gave a presentation on how the creek area is prone to infiltration and that the security apparatus of BSF was located way behind.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The government of India is building "permanent vertical bunkers" for stationing BSF troops at the strategic location of Sir Creek and 'Harami Nalla' marshy area, close to the India-Pakistan International Border in Gujarat, said the official sources.

The government of India is building "permanent vertical bunkers" for stationing BSF troops at the strategic location of Sir Creek and 'Harami Nalla' marshy area, close to the India-Pakistan International Border in Gujarat, said the official sources. A Rs 50-crore fund has been approved by the Union Home Ministry for building the eight multi-storeyed bunkers cum observation posts keeping in mind the "constant infiltration of Pakistani fishermen and fishing boats in the area", said the sources to India-based news agency PTI. As per the official information, 22 Pakistani fishermen were apprehended by the Border Security Force (BSF) and 79 fishing boats were seized along with heroin worth Rs 250 crore and charas worth Rs 2.49 crore from Gujarat in 2022. ALSO READ| India plans to introduce bodies for regulating online gaming industry The sources stated that three pylon-shaped towers are being built in the Sir Creek area, and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) will construct five such structures in a 4,050 sq km marshy area between the two countries and the 'harami nalla' area, which is spread across 900 sq km of area. The officials stated that space will be provided at the top floor of every 42-foot high 'vertical bunker' for placing surveillance gadgets and radars to monitor the area that includes serpentine estuaries. The rest two floors of the bunkers will have the capacity to include 15 armed BSF personnel as well as their logistics, they said. The officials said that the bunkers are being built in the Lakhpat Wari bet, Dafa bet and Samudra bet which fall on the eastern side of the creek, within the territory of India. WATCH| WION Dispatch: India flags 'intense' challenges for China's new Foreign Minister A senior BSF officer said that armed protection is being provided by a BSF contingent to the labourers who are building three bunkers under the CPWD in the Sir Creek area and aiming to complete it by March. He added that the ocean is likely to get turbulent from April and hence, the work is progressing at war footing. The decision of constructing the bunker was taken after BSF director general (DG) Pankaj Kumar Singh, while on a tour to the Gujarat border with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in April last year, gave a presentation on how the creek area is prone to infiltration and that the security apparatus of BSF was located way behind. (With inputs from agencies)

India constructing 'permanent vertical bunkers' for BSF troops at Gujarat creek

The Indian government, in its information technology rules’ draft amendments published on Monday,&nbsp;proposed the constitution of a self-regulatory body which will regulate online gaming companies amid rising concerns over people getting addicted to games and businesses being disrupted by patchy state laws.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The proposal that was introduced by a government panel emphasised the need for new rules to regulate the gaming sector which is set to reach $7 billion by 2026, as per consultancy Redseer.

In recent years, US investment firms Sequoia Capital and Tiger Global have supported Indian start-ups like Mobile Premier League and Dream11, which are famous for their fantasy cricket.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-supreme-court-upholds-governments-demonetisation-decision-with-a-4-1-majority-548629">India: Supreme Court upholds government’s demonetisation decision with a 4-1 majority</a>

The need for regulating the industry comes amid increasing fears that the growth of such games is leading to addiction and financial losses among young citizens.

Approval from the government will be required by the gaming companies for registering a self-regulation body which would constitute a member nominated by the government, who has a background in public administration, public finance, public policy and law enforcement and a member who belongs to the field of medicine, psychology or consumer education.

"We believe this is a great first step for comprehensive regulation for online gaming and will hopefully reduce the state-wise regulatory fragmentation that was a big challenge for the industry," said All India Gaming Federation’s CEO Roland Landers.

WATCH|&nbsp;WION Dispatch: India flags 'intense' challenges for China's new Foreign Minister

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According to the draft amendments, the companies will also need to appoint a chief compliance officer, who will work towards ensuring conformity with the law and will verify the identity of a user before creating an online account for them to play games.

(With inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The Indian government, in its information technology rules’ draft amendments published on Monday, proposed the constitution of a self-regulatory body which will regulate online gaming companies amid rising concerns over people getting addicted to games and businesses being disrupted by patchy state laws.

The Indian government, in its information technology rules’ draft amendments published on Monday, proposed the constitution of a self-regulatory body which will regulate online gaming companies amid rising concerns over people getting addicted to games and businesses being disrupted by patchy state laws. The proposal that was introduced by a government panel emphasised the need for new rules to regulate the gaming sector which is set to reach $7 billion by 2026, as per consultancy Redseer. In recent years, US investment firms Sequoia Capital and Tiger Global have supported Indian start-ups like Mobile Premier League and Dream11, which are famous for their fantasy cricket. ALSO READ| India: Supreme Court upholds government’s demonetisation decision with a 4-1 majority The need for regulating the industry comes amid increasing fears that the growth of such games is leading to addiction and financial losses among young citizens. Approval from the government will be required by the gaming companies for registering a self-regulation body which would constitute a member nominated by the government, who has a background in public administration, public finance, public policy and law enforcement and a member who belongs to the field of medicine, psychology or consumer education. "We believe this is a great first step for comprehensive regulation for online gaming and will hopefully reduce the state-wise regulatory fragmentation that was a big challenge for the industry," said All India Gaming Federation’s CEO Roland Landers. WATCH| WION Dispatch: India flags 'intense' challenges for China's new Foreign Minister According to the draft amendments, the companies will also need to appoint a chief compliance officer, who will work towards ensuring conformity with the law and will verify the identity of a user before creating an online account for them to play games. (With inputs from agencies)

India plans to introduce bodies for regulating online gaming industry

The Indian government is set to commence public consultation for online gaming with a self regulatory body (SRO) responsible to certify what is permitted as an online gaming intermediary in the country.

WION Fineprint: Indian govt mulls regularising online gaming

Indian govt mulls regularising online gaming

Google argued that the Indian antitrust tribunal should overturn a judgement against the US&nbsp;company for exploiting the dominance of its Android operating system in the country's market.

In October, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined Alphabet Inc.'s Google US$161 million for abusing its monopolistic position in markets like online search and the Android app store and demanded that it modify the limitations placed on smartphone manufacturers with regard to pre-installing apps.

Google was concerned about the Indian decision, according to sources who spoke to Reuters in October, because the remedies mandated were thought to be more extensive than those outlined in the historic 2018 decision by the European Commission that found that the restrictions placed on manufacturers of Android mobile devices were unlawful. In that instance, a record 4.1 billion euro ($4.3 billion) fine has been contested by Google.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/terror-epicentre-indias-external-affairs-minister-jaishankar-in-a-veiled-attack-on-pakistan-in-austria-549020">EAM Jaishankar defends India's stance on Russia-Ukraine, calls out Europe on its ‘long silence’</a>

In its filing to an Indian appeals tribunal, Google argued that&nbsp;the CCI’s investigation unit “copy-pasted extensively from a European Commission decision, deploying evidence from Europe that was not examined in India”.

“There are more than 50 instances of copypasting”, in some cases “word-for-word”, and the watchdog erroneously dismissed the issue, Google said in its filing which is not public but has been reviewed by Reuters.

Also watch |&nbsp;100 drones for India’s Marine surveillance

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“The Commission failed to conduct an impartial, balanced, and legally sound investigation … Google’s mobile app distribution practices are pro-competitive and not unfair/ exclusionary.”

The Indian competition verdict comes as Google is being subjected to more intense antitrust investigation globally. Google licences its Android operating system to manufacturers of smartphones, but others claim the limitations are anti-competitive.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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Google argued that the Indian antitrust tribunal should overturn a judgement against the US company for exploiting the dominance of its Android operating system in the country's market.

Google argued that the Indian antitrust tribunal should overturn a judgement against the US company for exploiting the dominance of its Android operating system in the country's market. In October, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined Alphabet Inc.'s Google US$161 million for abusing its monopolistic position in markets like online search and the Android app store and demanded that it modify the limitations placed on smartphone manufacturers with regard to pre-installing apps. Google was concerned about the Indian decision, according to sources who spoke to Reuters in October, because the remedies mandated were thought to be more extensive than those outlined in the historic 2018 decision by the European Commission that found that the restrictions placed on manufacturers of Android mobile devices were unlawful. In that instance, a record 4.1 billion euro ($4.3 billion) fine has been contested by Google. Also read | EAM Jaishankar defends India's stance on Russia-Ukraine, calls out Europe on its ‘long silence’ In its filing to an Indian appeals tribunal, Google argued that the CCI’s investigation unit “copy-pasted extensively from a European Commission decision, deploying evidence from Europe that was not examined in India”. “There are more than 50 instances of copypasting”, in some cases “word-for-word”, and the watchdog erroneously dismissed the issue, Google said in its filing which is not public but has been reviewed by Reuters. Also watch | 100 drones for India’s Marine surveillance “The Commission failed to conduct an impartial, balanced, and legally sound investigation … Google’s mobile app distribution practices are pro-competitive and not unfair/ exclusionary.” The Indian competition verdict comes as Google is being subjected to more intense antitrust investigation globally. Google licences its Android operating system to manufacturers of smartphones, but others claim the limitations are anti-competitive. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Google alleges India antitrust body plagiarised parts of EU order on android abuse

In a major boost to Marine Surveillance, India has concluded a maiden contract for Multicopter Vertical Take-off and Landing drones.

100 drones for India’s Marine surveillance

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