VODAFONE, CAIRN GET DEC 31 DEADLINE FOR INDIA’S RETRO TAX SETTLEMENT

A representative picture of an oil field

Government of India has fixed December 31, 2016 as the deadline for companies like Vodafone and Cairn Energy Plc to settle their retrospective tax disputes. The one-time offer to settle tax issues by waiving of interest and penalty, if the companies paid up the principal tax amount, had opened on June 1 this year.

Nearly two months after the offer opened, none of the companies have come forward and now the government wants to have a deadline for the scheme, sources privy to the development said. After the scheme closes, the Income Tax Department will go ahead with tax demands and pursue legal course including arbitration, they said. Sources said the government had asked Income Tax Department not to take any coercive action during the time the scheme is open.

Weeks before the scheme was announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his budget speech on February 29, the Income Tax Department had issued Vodafone a reminder over its Rs 14,200-crore tax demand and threatened to seize assets in case of non-payment. UK oil explorer Cairn Energy is facing a tax demand of Rs 10,247 crore on alleged capital gains made in a 2006 business reorganization it  carried out in its India unit before getting it listed.

The total tax due after including interest comes to over Rs 29,000 crore. British telecom giant Vodafone is also facing a total demand of Rs 14,200 crore in tax, interest and penalty with regard to its USD 11 billion  acquisition of 67 per cent stake in the mobile-phone business owned by Hutchison Whampoa in 2007.

Both firms raised their concerns over the tax demands and challenged the matter by initiating international arbitration. Sources said that in case any of the companies decides to avail the tax settlement scheme, it needs to provide a proof of withdrawal of "any proceeding for arbitration, conciliation or mediation or any notice thereof under any law for the time being in force or under any agreement entered into by India with any other country or territory outside India whether for protection of investment or otherwise".

The company will also have to furnish an undertaking waiving its right to seek or pursue any remedy or any claim in relation to the specified tax which may otherwise be available to it under any law or under an agreement with any country. A firm availing of the offer would have to pay the principal tax amount within 30 days of the designated authority determining the amount payable by the declaration.

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MURALIDARAN, 3 OTHERS TO GET ICC HALL OF FAME HONOUR

Former England bowler Lohmann (Left), Muttiah Muralidaran

Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralidaran, along with three others, will be inducted into the International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame later this year.

"The International Cricket Council today (Wednesday) announced that Muttiah Muralidaran, Karen Rolton, Arthur Morris and George Lohmann will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame later this year," the ICC said in a statement.

Record-breaking off-spinner Muralidaran becomes the first Sri Lankan player to be inducted along with twice ICC Women's World Cup winner and former Australia captain Karen Rolton, her compatriot Arthur Morris, a member of Don Bradman's 'invincibles' and England's George Lohmann, the 19th century fast bowler who took 100 wickets in just 16 Tests.


The four iconic cricketers were voted by the ICC Cricket Hall of Famers as well as members of the media. They will be presented with commemorative caps honouring their contribution to the game to mark their induction. Family members will represent Lohmann and Morris at the presentations.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson congratulated the four, saying: "The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame recognises some of the truly great players from cricket's long and illustrious history, and this year's inductees thoroughly deserve to be in this highly prestigious group.

"Muralidaran has been one of the greats of the modern era. His guile and consistency over the years helped Sri Lanka develop as a very competitive side in both Tests and ODI cricket.

"We have in the list some very famous names of different eras. Lohmann and Morris were outstanding performers during their times and are part of cricket folk-lore, while Rolton's performances have been recent and came during an era when women's cricket became very competitive."

Muralidaran, whose last international fixture was the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Mumbai finished his career with 800 wickets in Tests, 534 wicket in One-Day Internationals and 13 wickets in 12 T20Is.

Lohmann, an exponent of swing bowling in the late 19th century and rated by his contemporaries as the most difficult opponent, will be the 27th Englishman in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame list. He raced to 100 Test wickets in 16 matches but tuberculosis shortened his career and he died at the age of 36 in 1901.

In an 18-Test career from 1886 to 1896, Lohmann took 112 wickets, including nine for 28 against South Africa at the Old Wanderers, and also scored 213 runs.

Morris, a stylish left-hander of the 1940s and 50s who scored 12 centuries and 12 fifties in 46 Tests between 1946 and 1955, will be the 22nd Australia cricketer in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Morris scored a total of 12,614 runs in 162 first-class matches, including 3,533 runs in Tests.


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MODI CALLS MAY, 'STRONGER AND CLOSER' TIES DISCUSSED

Indian Prime Minister called on Theresa May to congratulate her for becoming UK Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Britain's new Prime Minister Theresa May congratulating her on her assumption of office and discussed with her "stronger and closer" bilateral ties, including in trade and defence. During the telephonic conversation on Tuesday (July 26) Modi also appreciated the UK's consistent support to India in various global fora, the 

MEA spokesperson said on Wednesday. Thanking Prime Minister Modi, May said she looked forward to working closely with him for developing stronger bilateral ties and enhancing 

cooperation in tackling pressing global challenges. Modi also recalled his memorable visit to the UK last November. Downing Street said that trade and investment formed the central feature of the discussions between the two leaders during their conversation.

"Trade and investment featured strongly in the conversation with Prime Minister Modi who expressed his hope that the relationship would become even stronger and closer in the future, particularly given the shared values and common interest," a Downing Street statement said.

May took over after the resignation of David Cameron following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union (EU) in a referendum on June 23. She sought to highlight London and the UK’s continued importance within the India-UK relationship during her first official conversation with Modi.

"The Prime Minister [May] pointed out that the launch next month of the first rupee-denominated bond in London is a concrete example of our close and growing economic cooperation and underlines that the city remains a global hub for innovative finance," Downing Street said.

"The Prime Minister also emphasised the UK’s continued commitment to our defence and security partnership and support for India's increasing role in international fora. Finally, both welcomed the valuable contribution of the Indian diaspora to the UK," the statement added.

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BHAJJI, GEETA BLESSED WITH A DAUGHTER

Harbhajan with wife Geeta

Actress Geeta Basra and cricketer Harbhajan Singh have welcomed their first child, a baby girl. The baby was born on Thursday in London, according to sources close to the couple.

Singh, 36, and Basra are yet to comment on the good news. The couple tied the knot on October 29 last year at Singh's native place in Jalandhar, Punjab after years of courtship.

Earlier in June, the 32-year-old actress had a lavish baby shower. Basra, whose family lives in the UK, made her Bollywood debut with Emraan Hashmi-starrer "Dil Diya Hai" in 2006. She was last seen in "Second Hand Husband", which also starred Punjabi actor-singer Gippy Grewal.

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INDO-JAPAN BUSINESS DISPUTE SPILL OVER IN UK?

A representative picture

A dispute over alleged unpaid dues between Japan's mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo, and the Tata group could involve the latter's assets in Britain, according to a UK media report on Thursday.

The Japanese firm has served an order from London’s Commercial Court against Tata Sons which allows DoCoMo to enforce an arbitration deal, made in London in June, against Tata Sons' assets in the UK, 'The Financial Times' reported.

Tata Sons, the Indian conglomerate's holding company, owns a 29 per cent stake in Tata Steel, which includes embattled UK steel units, and a 23 per cent in Tata Motors, which includes the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) brands in the UK.

The latest development follows DoCoMo's rejection of Tata Sons' offer to deposit USD 1.17 billion — a penalty awarded by an arbitration panel — with the Delhi High Court registrar.

The dispute relates to DoCoMo's exercise of its right to exit from Tata Teleservices — its joint venture with the Tata Group. DoCoMo had decided to exit Tata Teleservices in 2014 as its JV’s performance was not up to the mark and had given Tata 90 days to find a buyer.

With Tata failing to find a buyer for DoCoMo’s stake in the JV, DoCoMo had exercised its right to seek a buyback option. The Tata Group, however, could not repay the amount as the Reserve Bank India (RBI) felt it would violate the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema) norms. The Japanese firm initiated arbitration proceedings, which ruled in favour of DoCoMo and fined the Tata Group USD 1.17 billion.

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Gujarat - Suppress Dalits’s Against Social Media @GG2

For the men who thrashed four young Dalits in Gujarat for skinning a dead cow, uploading the video of the assault a few weeks ago was a self-awarded trophy. But it was social media that rounded them up, provocative national outrage and politicians who headed in quick succession to Una to express their commonality with the victims.


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ERDOGAN DECLARES 3-MONTH STATE OF EMERGENCY IN TURKEY

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a press conference in Ankara Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday (July 20) declared a three-month state of emergency, vowing to hunt down the 'terrorist' group behind last week's bloody coup attempt.

He has accused followers of his arch-enemy, US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, of being behind the coup, which has led to a wave of some 50,000 arrests and sackings of suspected conspirators. The state of emergency was needed 'in order to remove swiftly all the elements of the

terrorist organisation involved in the coup attempt,' Erdogan said at the presidential palace in Ankara.  Although the special measure vastly increases state security powers, Erdogan vowed there would be 'no compromise on democracy'.

The announcement followed long meetings of Turkey's national security council and cabinet chaired by Erdogan at the presidential palace. A state of emergency gives the government extra powers to restrict freedom of movement, said an official, adding that it would not restrict financial or commercial activities as 'international law sets limits of restrictions'. Turkey in 2002 lifted its last state of emergency, which had been imposed in provinces in the southeast for the fight against Kurdish militants in 1987.

Article 120 of the constitution allows a state of emergency to be imposed 'at a time of serious deterioration of public order because of acts of violence.' Global concern has grown as Turkish authorities have arrested or fired troops, police, judges, teachers and other civil servants in the aftermath of Friday's failed bid to seize power by rebel troops.

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CLASHES AS HUNDREDS PROTEST ATTACK ON LOW-CASTE INDIANS

Members of the Dalit community protest against thrashing of the community members earlier 

A police officer was killed on Tuesday (July 19) when violence broke out at a demonstration in western India to protest an attack on low-caste villagers by cow protection vigilantes. Police fired teargas shells and used sticks to try to control stone-throwing crowds angered by attempts to stop them from demonstrating in western Gujarat state. Hundreds of people have been detained as authorities try to contain the unrest, which began on Monday and has since spread. 

One senior officer was fatally wounded in Tuesday's clashes and several more suffered minor injuries, the local superintendent of police J A Patel said. The protests erupted after video footage emerged of an attack last week on four villagers from the lowest Dalit caste who were taking a dead cow to be skinned. Cows are considered sacred by Hindus and killing them is banned in Gujarat, but the villagers said the animal had died of natural causes. 

Low-caste villagers are commonly tasked with removing the corpses of dead cows from the streets of India, where the animals often roam freely. 

Local lawmaker Shambhu Prasad Tundiya said the violence was a sign of frustration among low-caste Hindus after years of discrimination by people from higher castes who often went unpunished. 'Such atrocities by upper-caste people on Dalits have been happening time and again since ages. This is unacceptable,' Tundiya told reporters. 

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel meanwhile said 16 people had now been arrested over the attack and appealed for calm after a series of apparent attempted suicides among Dalits. 'I appeal to Dalit youth to not resort to desperate measures like attempting suicide & assure them that govt is with Una victims,' she tweeted, referring to the town where the original attack took place.

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THREE KILLED IN SHOOTING IN EASTERN UK

Three people were killed on Tuesday (July 19) in a shooting in Spalding of  eastern England, including the suspected assailant, but police said there was no indication of a link with terrorism. Lincolnshire police said they were not looking for anyone else following the 'firearms incident' near a swimming pool and sports complex in the town of Spalding.  

'Three people have been fatally wounded, including the suspected offender,' the police force said in a statement. 'There is an ongoing police investigation and at this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.'  

'There is no indication that this is a terrorist-related incident and no shots have been fired by police.'  A spokeswoman for the local ambulance service said paramedics had treated three patients for gunshot wounds but they were pronounced dead at the scene. Police urged members of the public to stay away from the area, and local councillor Gary Taylor said the incident had left the community reeling. 'It's terrible news and local people are very shocked,' he told a news agency. 'It's a very quiet place. Gun crime does not exist in this area at all. It's shocking news.' In a short statement on its Facebook page, the Castle Sports Complex and Swimming Pool said it was closed 'due to an incident in the local area'.

THERESA MAY TO TAKE OVER AS NEW BRITISH PRIME MINISTER

A file pic of Theresa May Theresa May will take over as new Prime Minister on Wednesday (July 13) , British Premier David Cameron said on Monday after the home secretary's only rival in the race to become Conservative Party leader pulled out unexpectedly.

Cameron said he will chair his last Cabinet meeting tomorrow and attend House of Commons for his last Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday before heading to Buckingham Palace to offer his official resignation to Queen Elizabeth II.

'We will have a new Prime Minister in that building behind me by Wednesday evening,' Cameron told reporters outside 10 Downing Street.

'I am delighted Theresa May will be Prime Minister. She has the overwhelming support of the Conservative parliamentary party...she is strong, she is competent, she is more than able to provide the leadership that our country is going to need in the years ahead,' said Cameron, who had announced he would be stepping down for a new prime minister to take the Brexit negotiations forward with the European Union a day after the June 23 vote in favour of Britain leaving the economic bloc.

59-year-old May would become Britain's second female Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher.Earlier on Monday, May's only rival Andrea Leadsom pulled out from the two-way contest for the Conservative party leadership in a dramatic move, leaving May sole contender.

Leadsom, who was energy minister in the Cameron-led Cabinet, threw her support behind May as 'ideally placed' to enforce the vote for Brexit in last month’s referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union (EU).

"The interests of our country are best served from the immediate appointment of a strong and well-supported Prime Minister. I am therefore withdrawing from the leadership election and I wish Theresa May the very greatest success.I assure her of my full support,' Leadsom told reporters.
"The best interests of our country inspired me to stand for our leadership. I believe in leaving the EU a bright future awaits. The referendum result represented a clear desire for change,' the 53-year-old senior Tory MP said.

It then fell to the 1922 committee of Conservative MPs to decide the revised timetable for the leadership race.


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ABOUT 22 KILLED AND 170000 RENDERED HOMELESS BY FLOODS IN INDIA

People travel on a horse drawn carriage through a flooded road on the banks of river Ganga in Allahabad of northern India Flash floods triggered by torrential rain have killed at least 22 people in India and forced more than 170,000 from their homes, officials said on Monday (July 11) , as forecasters predicted more downpours in coming days.

India's monsoon rains, though vital for agriculture, regularly bring death and destruction. The rain was 35 percent above average in the week that ended on July 6, the weather office said.

Twenty people were killed in the central state of Madhya Pradesh where 70,000 people were left homeless as water rose to dangerous levels along parts of the Narmada river.

Firemen waded through thigh-deep water to rescue women and children in flooded villages while rescue teams used inflatable boats to reach people stranded in urban areas.
'Thousands of people will be evacuated today. We are working on a war footing mode to set up relief camps,' additional home secretary Basant Singh said in Bhopal, the state capital.

'The health department is distributing medicines to prevent outbreak of water-borne diseases.'

Stormy weather also ravaged parts of the remote northeast.

Heavy rain pounded the tea-growing, oil-rich state of Assam killing at least two people. About 100,000 people were forced to take shelter on higher ground, officials there said.

The rain has also swelled the Brahmaputra river, which flows into Bangladesh, to dangerous levels.


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LEADER OF PATIDAR AGITATION HARDIK PATEL GRANTED BAIL IN TWO CASES

Gujarat High Court on Friday (July 8) granted bail to Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel in two sedition cases, with a rider that he will have to stay outside the state for the next six months.

However, Hardik cannot come out of jail for now, as another case of mob violence at an MLA office is pending against him in Visnagar town of Mehsana district. Next hearing of the Visnagar case bail application in the high court is scheduled on July 11. Justice A J Desai granted bail to Hardik with strict conditions, one of them being that he will have to stay outside Gujarat for the next six months.

The court also directed Hardik’s lawyer to give a fresh written undertaking on his behalf which should state that he would not indulge in any activities that would lead to law and order problem.

The judge, while pronouncing the judgement, said that he has listed other conditions in written order. The 22-year-old Patel quota stir spearhead has been behind bars since October 2015, in sedition cases that were filed against him in Ahmedabad and Surat. During the hearing of the case, Government pleader Mitesh Amin had opposed bail to Hardik saying that the state government is apprehensive that if he is let off on bail, Hardik may repeat the offence, and his presence outside the jail may create law and order situation problems in the state.

Hardik’s lawyer Zubin Bharda had told the court that his client is ready to stay out of the state for six months if the court grants bail, in order to remove the apprehensions expressed by the state pleader.

During earlier hearings, the government had declined to accept Hardik’s offer for written undertaking for bail, in which he had stated that he will refrain from activities that may affect law and order situation, but added he will ‘continue to agitate for grievances of the Patidar community in a peaceful and democratic manner.’

Hardik had approached the high court for bail in the sedition cases, after the lower courts in Surat and Ahmedabad (where there are separate sedition cases against Hardik) refused to grant bail.


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CENTRE RUSHES 800 CRPF TROOPS TO KASHMIR

Eight hundred additional central  paramilitary forces are being rushed to Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of continued violent protests across the Valley. The reinforcements will be in addition to 1,200 personnel which were sent to aid the state police on Saturday. Official sources said eight companies (with 100 personnel each) of CRPF are being sent in the wake of ongoing protests. About 60 battallions (about 1000 personnel each) are already stationed in the state as part of counter insurgency grid.

A police station in Sopore was torched by a mob on Monday (July 11)  while air force airport in Pulwama and other security installations in Kashmir have also came under attack as ongoing clashes between protesters and security personnel continued following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on Friday (July 8).

The violent protests have so far left 23 dead and over  250 injured. Normal life has been paralysed due to curfew-like restrictions and separatists-sponsored strike since Saturday  (July 9).

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NEPAL SAYS INDIAN POLICE COUPLE FAKED EVEREST PHOTOS

This handout photograph released by Phurba Tenzing Sherpa on May 24, 2016, shows mountaineers as they walk from Camp 3 to Camp 4, as they push for the summit of Mount Everest on May 19, 2016

An Indian couple falsified photographs of themselves at the top of Mount Everest to get their feat certified by Kathmandu, Nepal said Wednesday (July 6), after earlier saying the climb was valid.

Dinesh and Tarakeshwari Rathod, both police constables, said they reached the top of the world's highest mountain on May 23 -- but fellow climbers cast doubt on their claim, saying their photos at the summit were doctored.

Nepal's tourism department initially certified the couple's climb after speaking to their expedition organisers and government officials stationed at Everest base camp.


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BANGLADESH REELS FROM NEW DEADLY ATTACK AT START OF EID

Suspected Islamists carried out another deadly attack in Bangladesh Thursday at the country's biggest prayer service for the start of Eid, days after a mass murder of hostages in the capital Dhaka.

Authorities said four people, including two policemen, had been killed after several explosions and gunfire near a prayer ground in Kishoreganj district as at least 250,000 people joined a post-Ramadan gathering.

'Two policemen, an attacker and a woman who was shot during the gunfight were killed,' national police spokesman A.K.M. Shahidur Rahman said.

Nine policemen were also injured. They are in a critical condition and have been shifted to a military hospital in Dhaka.


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JAMMU AND KASHMIR GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES BORDER TOURISM

A local in a Shikara at Dal lake which is the main tourist attraction in Jammu and Kashmir The rattle of guns was replaced by the excited noises of people clicking selfies and dancing to the beats of drums at the Border Out Post (BoP) in the India's northen state of Jammu and Kashmir as government launched its border tourism initiative.

Ahead of their departure to Amarnath cave shrine to pay obeisance at ice-lingam of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir Himalayan shrine, a group of nearly 100 pilgrims from various states of the country made a beeline at Octerio Border Out Post (BoP) along IB with Pakistan which has a three-tier border fencing.

Minister of State for Culture & Tourism, Priya Sethi led the group which traveled in a special tourism bus to Suchetgarh border belt in R S Pura tehsil of Jammu district. 'This is an effort by the government to promote border tourism in the state. After this, the next step of the government would be to promote cross-border tourism," the Minister told reporters.

"Tourists and pilgrims are ambassadors for our state and the government wants to send a message of peaceful atmosphere and cultural harmony across the country through them," she said, adding that such visits would become a routine exercise in the coming days.


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SANIA MIRZA-MARTINA HINGIS STORM INTO ROUND 3 IN A QUICK GAME

India's Sania Mirza and Switzerland's Martina Hingis pose with their trophy

Top seeds Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis breezed into the women's third round with a 6-3, 6-1 win over the Japanese pair Eri Hozumi-Miyu Kato at the Wimbledon championships in London on Sunday (July 3).

The Indo-Swiss were clinical in their approach and wrapped up the second round clash in 52 minutes on Court No.3.

The fancied duo served well besides converting five of the eight break points they earned in the match.

Sania and Martina's third round opponents will be Christina McHale and Jelena Ostapenko. The American-Latvian combine defeated 13th seeds Alla Kudryavtseva and Vania King 6-1 6-4 in their second round match.

Earlier today, the 10th seeded Finnish-Australian pair of John Peers and Henri Kontinen needed only 62 minutes to dispatch India's Leander Paes and his Polish partner Marcin Matkowski 6-3 6-2 in the second round.


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TATA, STARBUCKS TO BOOST SYNERGY WITH NEW GLOBAL INITIATIVES

A file pic of Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry with John Tulver, President of Star Bucks coffee (China and Asia Pacific)

Tata Sons and Starbucks have finalised multiple new joint initiatives to expand their collaboration at a global level, apart from building the iconic American coffee chains brand and business. The initiatives include sourcing Indian coffee for the US market, introducing the Teavana brand of specialty teas in Indian stores, expanding the market of the Tata-owned mineral water brand Himalayan and skilling over 3,000 youths, the companies said.Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry met Starbucks Chairman and Chief Executive Howard Schultz last week in Seattle and finalised these initiatives, which will be rolled out by the year-end, the companies said in a joint statement on Monday (June 27).


The two groups have been running Tata Stabucks coffee chain in the country since October 2012 as part of a joint venture.The JV operates 80 stores in six key cities, but that is way below the initial target as they had set a target of opening 50 stores in the first year itself. The company has been citing difficulty in getting the right retail location as the main reason for the slower expansion."Starbucks now spans over more than 80 stores across six Indian cities. As we continue on our journey with the Tatas, we are delighted to introduce the finest coffee from India to a new audience," Shultz said in the statement.

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INDIA'S FIRST INDIGENOUS COMBAT PLANE ENTERS SERVICE AFTER 33 YEARS

India's first locally-built combat aircraft officially took to the skies on Friday, 33 years after it was cleared for development, marking a long-held goal of cutting expensive imports to build a domestic defense-industrial base.

India's fighter aircraft fleet, made up of a mix of Russian, British and French planes, is down to 33 squadrons as against the air force's requirement of 45 to face Pakistan and China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has nudged the military to accept the first version of the "Tejas" Light Combat Aircraft to make up for the shortfall while a more powerful subsequent model is under development.

Indian Air Force officers broke coconuts and priests held multi-faith ceremonies to mark the induction of two planes in the southern city of Bengaluru. Later, the aircraft took off in the colours of the air force as fire tenders sprayed water on he tarmac in a military ritual.

"Moment of national pride. Indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet inducted into Air Force. Tejas will take our air strength to new heights," Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, who has led the drive for indignation, said in a Twitter post.

Early this month China said it is still testing its first stealth fighter, the J-20, but it would enter service soon.

The single-seat Indian fighter is considered superior to counterparts like the JF-17 aircraft jointly built by China and Pakistan. Tejas has had no accident in 3,000 hours of flying and its use of composites helps lower its radar signature, making it harder to detect early, air force officials said.


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