<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47655632.cms" /> <keyword id="60603" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="United-States-Air-Force">United States Air Force</keyword> has successfully tested its <keyword id="443786" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Fifth-Generation-Fighter-Aircraft">fifth generation fighter aircraft</keyword> way back in 1997 and has inducted the same in December 2005. It has a total strength of around 187 operational F-22 fighters. It is the only air force in the world which currently operates the fifth generation jets; however it definitely fueled the fifth generation fighter jet development programs around the world either solo or in collaboration. Russia, India, China and Turkey are reportedly engaged in the development of their own version of the fifth generation fighters. 
 The Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (<keyword id="441427" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="FGFA">FGFA</keyword>) or Perspective Multi-role Fighter (PMF) is a fifth generation fighter aircraft being developed by India and Russia. The FGFA is being developed for the <keyword id="15141" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> (IAF) and is a derivative product of PAK-FA. The completed FGFA will include a total of around 45 improvements(expected) over the T-50, including stealth, advanced sensors, super cruise, networking and combat avionics as per the Indian conditions and will be armed with the weapons like <keyword id="94511" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="astra">ASTRA</keyword>, a Beyond Visual Range (BVR)missile developed and tested by India. 
 
 
The need and the delay 
 Former Defense Minister Antony’s Moscow visit in October 2007 to co-chair the annual session of <keyword id="2585279" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="India-Russia-Inter-Governmental-Commission">India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission</keyword> on military-technical cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) marked the start of FGFA project with the aim to induct the futuristic stealth fighter by 2016-17. The $295-million preliminary design contract signed in December 2010 was allocated for the 50:50 design and production agreement which was a mere part of the massive US $30 Billion project. 
 The purpose of having the next generation FGFA is to execute a credible deterrence power and to attain independence is developing the indigenous technology under the transfer of technology agreement. Why waste so much money on an older 4th generation plane, when we can divert that money to develop Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and the advanced LCA <keyword id="6376012" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Tejas">Tejas</keyword>. 
 
The IAF currently maintains 34 squadrons of 550+ fighters while the sanctioned number is 42 squadrons. This reduced capacity can have serious outcomes if it faces a two front war situation given the multiple threats that India perceives. 
 
Regular reports of differences between the joint development parties over design and work agreements are further pushing the trial and induction of the fighters. Earlier it was expected to induct the fighters by 2016-17 but the delays and cost-overruns are pushing the dates towards 2019-2020, however prototypes will be coming soon. 
 
 
Area of concern and the possible outcome 
 
Reduced IAF's fleet strength means fewer aircraft have to perform more missions to get the work done. Imagine this situation in a two front war scenario. This is where India quickly needs to induct more locally built advanced version of Tejas fighters and more locally assembled Su-30MKIs which are top of the line 4++ generation fighters. On the lines of SU-30, India can take 20-25 of FGFA jets in fly away conditions and rest can be made under license. India has done remarkably well by cutting down the MMRCA deal to 36 Fighters and saved around 18 Billion USD which can be further pooled into the faster development of the Fifth generation fighters like FGFA and AMCA which will form the future force multipliers for the country. 
 
(image credits: Defenceprojectsindia)

Indo-Russian 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft program: Delays and the possible outcomes

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> has for the first time issued a notice to <keyword id="3001" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="pakistan" source="Orion">Pakistan</keyword>, seeking a review and modification of the Indus Waters Treaty (<keyword id="1523287" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="iwt" source="Orion">IWT</keyword>), in view of Islamabad's "intransigence" to comply with the dispute redressal mechanism of the pact that was signed more than six decades ago for matters relating to cross-border rivers, government sources said on Friday. The notice, sent by India's Indus water commissioner to his Pakistani counterpart on January 25 under the provisions of the pact, seeks Islamabad's response within 90 days for inter-governmental negotiations to "rectify the material breach" of the IWT. Government sources said India's call for the review and modification of the pact is not specific to the dispute resolution mechanism only, and that the negotiations could cover various other provisions of the pact, based on the experiences gained over the last 62 years. India took the significant step around 10 months after the <keyword id="6354424" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="world-bank" source="Orion">World Bank</keyword> announced appointing a neutral expert and a chair of the Court of Arbitration under two separate processes to resolve the differences over the Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects, following Islamabad's refusal to address the matter through talks between the two commissioners. The sources said according to India, the start of the two concurrent processes to resolve the dispute violates the provision of the three-step graded mechanism prescribed in the pact and wondered what will happen if the mechanisms come out with contradictory judgements. India and Pakistan signed the IWT on September 19, 1960 after nine years of negotiations, with the World Bank being a signatory to the pact that sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two sides on the use of the waters of a number of cross-border rivers. "The objective of the notice for modification is to provide Pakistan with an opportunity to enter into intergovernmental negotiations within 90 days to rectify the material breach of the IWT. This process would also update the IWT to incorporate the lessons learned over the last 62 years," a source said. The sources said the immediate trigger to send the notice was Pakistan's "intransigence" for a solution to the differences over the Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects in accordance with the provisions of the IWT. Under the pact, any difference needs to be resolved under a three-stage approach. However, in case of the Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects, the World Bank started two concurrent dispute redressal processes at the insistence of Pakistan, which India felt was a breach of the IWT. Commenting on the Indian move, spokesperson in the Pakistani foreign office <keyword id="4642747" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mumtaz-zahra-baloch" source="Orion">Mumtaz Zahra Baloch</keyword> said: "As we speak, a court of arbitration is holding its first hearing in The Hague on Pakistan's objections to the Kishanganga and Ratle Hydro Electric projects." "The court of arbitration has been set up under the relevant provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty. Such...reports should not divert attention from the important proceedings of the court of arbitration," she added. The government sources said New Delhi has always been a steadfast supporter and a responsible partner in the implementation of the IWT in its letter and spirit. "However, Pakistan's actions have adversely impinged on the provisions of the IWT and their implementation, and forced India to issue an appropriate notice for a modification of the pact," a source said. In 2015, Pakistan requested for the appointment of a neutral expert to examine its technical objections to India's Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric projects (HEPs). In 2016, Pakistan unilaterally retracted the request and proposed that a court of arbitration adjudicate on its objections, the sources said. The sources said this "unilateral action" by Pakistan was in contravention of the graded mechanism of dispute settlement envisaged by Article IX of the IWT. Accordingly, India made a separate request for the matter to be referred to a neutral expert. "The initiation of two simultaneous processes on the same questions and the potential of their inconsistent or contradictory outcomes create an unprecedented and legally untenable situation, which risks endangering the IWT itself," a source said. "The World Bank acknowledged this in 2016 and took a decision to pause the initiation of two parallel processes and request India and Pakistan to seek an amicable way out," the source added. The sources said despite repeated efforts by India to find a mutually agreeable way forward, Pakistan refused to discuss the issue during the five meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission from 2017 to 2022. At Pakistan's continuing insistence, the World Bank last year initiated actions on both the neutral expert and court of arbitration processes, they said, adding that such parallel consideration of the same issues is not covered under any provision of the IWT. "Faced with such a violation of IWT provisions, India has been compelled to issue the notice of modification," one of the sources said. Under the provisions of the IWT, in case of any questions on any project or initiative, the Indus commissioners attempt to resolve those under the first step. If they fail, then the questions become "differences" and the World Bank has to appoint "neutral experts". If the "neutral experts" fail to find a resolution, the differences become disputes and, in such a scenario, the World Bank has to appoint a court of arbitration to find a way out, the sources said. In the case of the Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects, Pakistan asked for the appointment of neutral experts in 2015. Subsequently, it demanded the appointment of the court of arbitration in 2016, skipping the second stage of the dispute redressal, they said. In 2016, the World Bank followed the processes of finding a resolution by the neutral experts as well as the CoA following Pakistan's insistence. India, at that point, wondered what would happen if the two mechanisms came out with contradictory outcomes, the sources said. Following India's objections, the World Bank put a pause on both the processes and asked the two sides to resolve the matter at the meetings of the Indus commission. The pause was withdrawn in March last year, they said. In March last year, the World Bank announced starting the two concurrent processes and subsequently, appointed a neutral expert and a chair of the CoA. When the two concurrent processes resumed in March last year, India only cooperated with the neutral expert and has been skipping the process being followed by the CoA. "Now we have reached a stage that if we allow both the processes to move forward, it may result in contradictory judgements and will put a question mark over the integrity of the treaty itself. That is the immediate and legal reason for the modification of the treaty," a source said. The sources said India has learnt many lessons over the last 62 years and it feels it is time to make the treaty "more up to date". There is a provision in the treaty for modification and there could be many things that India may like to change or Pakistan may like to change. Under the IWT, all the waters of the eastern rivers -- Sutlej, Beas and Ravi -- amounting to around 33 million acre feet (MAF) annually, is allocated to India for unrestricted use. The waters of the western rivers -- Indus, Jhelum and Chenab -- amounting to around 135 MAF annually, have been assigned largely to Pakistan. India is permitted to construct the run of the river plants on the western rivers with a limited storage, according to the criteria specified in the treaty. According to the provisions of Article VIII(5) of the IWT, the Permanent Indus Commission is required to meet at least once a year. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/adani-group-companies-lose-3-22-lakh-crore-in-market-value-amidst-tussle-with-hindenburg-research/articleshow/97374612.cms">Adani Group companies lose ₹3.22 lakh crore in market value amidst tussle with Hindenburg Research</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/adani-enterprises-20000-crore-fpo-now-open-analysts-maintain-cautious-optimism/articleshow/97369358.cms">Adani Enterprises’ ₹20,000 crore FPO now open, analysts maintain cautious optimism</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tata-motors-in-top-gear-reports-net-profit-of-2958-crore-in-q3-its-first-after-seven-quarters/articleshow/97319081.cms">Tata Motors In Top Gear: Reports net profit of ₹2,958 crore in Q3, its first after seven quarters</a>

India issues notice to Pak seeking review, modification of Indus Waters Treaty

US President Donald Trump has decided to postpone the G7 summit till September and invite India, Russia, Australia and South Korea to discuss a plan on how to deal with the future of China among the 11 most powerful nations. A White House statement said that after Air Force One touched down at Joint Base Andrews on Saturday night, the President came back to the press cabin to chat, off the record, for several minutes toward the end of the flight. However, he permitted <keyword id="1473395" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-White-House">the White House</keyword> to use his statement on the record about the G7. "He is postponing it until September and plans to invite Russia, South Korea, Australia and India," the statement said. President Trump took the decision saying: "I don't feel that as a G7 it properly represents what's going on in the world. It's a very outdated group of countries." The Group of Seven (G7) is an international inter-governmental economic organization of the seven largest advanced economies of the world comprising the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. The decision to postpone the G7 meeting and include four other nations, "is bringing together our traditional allies to talk about how to deal with the future of China", White House Director of <keyword id="9320817" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="strategic-communications-alyssa-alexandra-farah">Strategic Communications Alyssa Alexandra Farah</keyword> said. Incidentally, India and China are locked in an intense face-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. Even as President Trump has offered to arbitrate between the two sides, both China and India are using the established mechanisms and communications channels to resolve the issue. Last week, however, with its new vision document on China, the US announced the onset of its <keyword id="24525" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="cold-war">Cold War</keyword> with the Asian giant, accusing it of exploiting rule-based world order and re-shaping international system in favour of Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ideology and interests. Just short of calling it Cold War, the US in its report titled, 'United States Strategic Approach to the People's Republic of China', released by the White House, declared that it is "responding to the CCP's direct challenge by acknowledging that the two major powers are in a "strategic competition and protecting" their "interests appropriately". On Friday, the US, the UK, Australia and Canada jointly reprimanded China, stating that its decision to impose a new security law on <keyword id="24349" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hong-Kong">Hong Kong</keyword> was in direct violation of international treaties. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/spacex-just-launched-its-historic-mission-to-fly-nasa-astronauts-to-space/articleshow/76114304.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">MUSK MAKES HISTORY: SpaceX just launched 2 people into orbit for the first time, kicking off the rocket company's most important mission since its founding 18 years ago</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-developer-earns-rs-75-lakh-for-finding-sign-in-with-apple-bug/articleshow/76116612.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">A 27-year-old Indian developer bags ₹75 lakh for reporting a critical flaw in ‘Sign in with Apple’</a>

Donald Trump postpones G7 summit wants India, Russia, Australia, S.Korea to join group

<ul><li>India currently imports <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/crude-oil-surges-significantly-to-109-per-barrel-as-countries-look-for-options-other-than-russia/articleshow/89936843.cms">85% of its oil demand </a>and the rise in <keyword id="102132" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="crude-oil-prices" source="Orion">crude oil prices</keyword> directly increases import bill and expenses.</li><li>This ever-increasing demand for fuel and dependency on imported <keyword id="45185" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="crude-oil" source="Orion">crude oil</keyword> for domestic needs has made us wonder if there's an alternative solution to this problem.</li><li>Yes, there is. Hydrogen.</li></ul>One thing that the entire country is worried about today is rising fuel prices that are burning a hole in our pockets. <div type="image" title="Fuel prices are burning a hole in our pockets" msid="91252731" hostid="261"></div> The price of crude oil, which is used to make petrol and diesel, shot up after Russia – one of the major oil producing countries – went onto the battlefield with Ukraine. India currently imports <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/crude-oil-surges-significantly-to-109-per-barrel-as-countries-look-for-options-other-than-russia/articleshow/89936843.cms">85% of its oil demand </a>and the rise in crude oil prices directly increases import bill and expenses. And crude oil prices have increased more than 50% in the last one year <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/crude-oil-surges-significantly-to-109-per-barrel-as-countries-look-for-options-other-than-russia/articleshow/89936843.cms">to $100 from $60 a year </a>ago. This ever-increasing demand for fuel and dependency on imported crude oil for domestic needs has made us wonder if there's an alternative solution to this problem. Yes, there is! Hydrogen. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is hydrogen and how can it be used as fuel?" text="What is hydrogen and how can it be used as fuel?">What is hydrogen and how can it be used as fuel?</cmsannotation> Hydrogen is a clean energy alternative and can be made directly from fossil fuels or biomass, or it can be produced by passing electricity through water. <keyword id="8411893" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-hydrogen" source="Orion">Green hydrogen</keyword> (GH2) can be generated by breaking water (H20) into hydrogen and oxygen through the electrolysis of water. An electrical current is used to separate hydrogen from oxygen in water and it is extracted without generating any net carbon emissions. This also means that the energy created from hydrogen does not release toxic carbon dioxide, which makes it one of many potential energy sources that could help reduce carbon emissions and slow global warming. <div type="image" title="The process of producing Green Hydrogen" msid="91252763" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The process of producing Green Hydrogen&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> This green fuel can be utilised as a source of energy in transport, electricity production, and industry activity. It can power anything that uses electricity including electric vehicles and electronic devices. It can also be used as a <a href="https://telanganatoday.com/what-exactly-is-green-hydrogen-and-will-it-be-the-fuel-of-the-future">substitute </a>for natural gas for cooking and heating within homes. If the electricity needed for electrolysis is generated from renewable sources such as solar or wind, the production of green hydrogen does not emit any harmful gases unlike coal and oil. It only emits water vapour. Hydrogen is also the most <a href="https://www.precedenceresearch.com/green-hydrogen-market">abundant </a>element on the planet and offers tremendous promise for innovation. Hence, this is the most eco-friendly way of producing fuel. This is why different countries are rushing to include green hydrogen in their clean energy initiatives. Government bodies around the world have been investing time and money for research into this sustainable source of energy. And India has also taken some steps towards clean energy. According to market research and consulting organisation Precedence <a href="https://www.precedenceresearch.com/green-hydrogen-market">Research</a>, the global green hydrogen market was valued at $1.83 billion in 2021 and is expected to hit over US $89.18 billion by 2030, poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 54% from 2021 to 2030. The report goes on to say that the Asia-Pacific region is the <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/01/11/2364715/0/en/Green-Hydrogen-Market-Size-to-Surpass-US-89-18-Bn-by-2030.html">fastest </a>growing region in the green hydrogen market. <div type="image" title="Growth expectation for global green hydrogen market" msid="91252778" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Growth expectation for global Green Hydrogen market&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Not to forget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/india-can-be-global-hub-of-green-hydrogen-says-pm-narendra-modi-122030401489_1.html">Green </a>Hydrogen Policy and this target of becoming net zero carbon emission by 2070, earlier this year, with the goal of making India a "green hydrogen hub," or a prominent producer and exporter of "green hydrogen." The government policy is aimed at boosting green hydrogen production in the country, which can also reduce India’s dependence on importing over 80% of the oil and gas requirements. The policy focuses on increasing dependency on cleaner forms of energy and abandoning fossil fuels. The policy says green hydrogen and green ammonia is one of the major requirements for reduction of emissions. The government believes hydrogen can play a huge role in shifting to clean energy. It allows companies to easily set up the capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources such as solar or wind anywhere in the country. The government is also planning to bring a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing electrolysers for producing green hydrogen. Large companies like Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Adani Group, Larsen &amp; Toubro (L&amp;T) with multiple factories that release several forms of chemicals in some way or another will take advantage of the policy. In fact, they have laid out a roadmap already to enter the green hydrogen market. Huge conglomerates like RIL have their own emission target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2035. In June 2021, RIL had also said that it is planning to invest <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/yessarrosendar/2022/01/14/indian-billionaire-mukesh-ambanis-reliance-industries-to-invest-80-billion-in-renewable-energy-push/?sh=57ca8f7d7a2f">$10 billion</a> in renewable energy. To help make Gujarat net-zero carbon, Reliance proposes to invest $67.4 billion in the state over 10 to 15 years to set up a 100 gigawatt renewable energy power plant and green hydrogen ecosystem development. <ul><li>Reliance Industries has announced to produce green hydrogen and also make an electrolyser factory to manufacture green energy.</li><li>Larsen &amp; Toubro announced plans to manufacture hydrogen electrolysers in India. Recently, it entered into a pact with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay to carry out a joint research and develop the green hydrogen technology.</li><li>Indian Oil Corp, one of the largest fossil fuel retailers, also announced its plans to build a green hydrogen plant at its Mathura refinery in Uttar Pradesh.</li><li>GAIL plans to build India's largest green hydrogen-making plant as it looks to supplement its natural gas business with carbon-free fuel.</li><li>NTPC also plans to produce green hydrogen.</li></ul>The policy allows 25 years of free inter-state power transmission for any new renewable energy plants that produce green hydrogen for projects commissioned before June 30, 2025. This means that a green hydrogen producer will be able to set up a solar power plant and supply in states and not pay any inter-state transmission charges. Currently, green hydrogen technology is still at the stage of emergence. The country has to overcome a few barriers such as price, storage, and logistics, to ensure a smooth transition towards the green hydrogen ecosystem. Here’s an explainer video about everything green hydrogen, challenges that the world currently faces to store GH2, positives from India's Green Hydrogen policy and five stocks that will benefit from it. <div type="Youtube" id="XdyDOVojq_Y" title="5 Stocks to benefit from the Green Hydrogen Policy ft @Anshuman Sharma | What the Stonks" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XdyDOVojq_Y/mqdefault.jpg"></div>

EXPLAINED: Green hydrogen and India’s new policy around it

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> has listed its priorities ahead of assuming the G20 Presidency for a year from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023. In a statement on Tuesday, the <keyword id="6374106" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-external-affairs" source="Orion">Ministry of External Affairs</keyword> said: "Our G20 priorities are in the process of being firmed up, ongoing conversations inter alia revolve around inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth; LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment); women's empowerment; digital public infrastructure and tech-enabled development in areas ranging from health, agriculture and education to commerce, skill-mapping, culture and tourism; climate financing; circular economy; global food security; energy security; green hydrogen; disaster risk reduction and resilience; developmental cooperation; fight against economic crime; and multilateral reforms". Under the role, India is expected to host over 200 G20 meetings across the country, beginning from this December. The G20 Leaders' Summit at the level of Heads of State Government is scheduled to be held on September 9-10, 2023 in New Delhi, said the <keyword id="48413" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry" source="Orion">Ministry</keyword> statement. The G20 is an inter-governmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies. It comprises 19 countries -- Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US -- and the European Union (EU). Collectively, the G20 accounts for 85 per cent of the global GDP, 75 per cent of international trade and two-thirds of the world population, making it the premier forum for international economic cooperation. India is part of the G20 Troika (current, previous and incoming G20 Presidencies), which includes Indonesia and Italy. "During our Presidency, India, Indonesia and Brazil would form the Troika. This would be the first time when the Troika would consist of three developing countries and emerging economies, providing them a greater voice," the statement said. The G20 currently comprises Finance Track, with eight workstreams (Global Macroeconomic Policies, Infrastructure Financing, International Financial Architecture, Sustainable Finance, Financial Inclusion, Health Finance, International Taxation, Financial Sector Reforms) Sherpa Track, with 12 workstreams -- Anti-corruption, Agriculture, Culture, Development, Digital Economy, Employment, Environment and Climate, Education, Energy Transition, Health, Trade and Investment, Tourism. Ten Engagement Groups of private sector/civil society/independent bodies (Business 20, Civil 20, Labour 20, <keyword id="6354721" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="parliament" source="Orion">Parliament</keyword> 20, Science 20, Supreme Audit Institutions 20, Think 20, Urban 20, Women 20 and Youth 20). In addition to G20 members, there has been a tradition of the G20 Presidency inviting some guest countries and international organizations to its meetings and summit. Accordingly, in addition to regular international organizations (UN, IMF, <keyword id="6354424" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="world-bank" source="Orion">World Bank</keyword>, WHO, <keyword id="6357761" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="wto" source="Orion">WTO</keyword>, ILO, FSB and <keyword id="6356984" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="oecd" source="Orion">OECD</keyword>) and Chairs of Regional Organizations (AU, AUDA-NEPAD and ASEAN). India, as G20 Presidency, will be inviting Bangladesh, Egypt, <keyword id="56022" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mauritius" source="Orion">Mauritius</keyword>, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and UAE as guest countries, as well as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Asian Development Bank as guest international organizations. Recommended stories <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="94066711" title="India witnessed record 1.64 lakh suicides in 2021; career-related suicides on the rise" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[alsosee]]></payload></div><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="93921808" title="Right solutions can diminish disaster consequences: UN University report" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[alsosee]]></payload></div>

India to assume G20 Presidency for one year from December 2022;  host over 200 meetings and MEA lists priorities

One thing that the entire country is worried about today is rising fuel prices that are burning a hole in our pockets. <div type="image" title="Simpson meme" msid="91155009" hostid="261"></div> The price of crude oil, which is used to make petrol and diesel, shot up after Russia – one of the major oil-producing countries – went onto the battlefield with Ukraine. India currently imports <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/crude-oil-surges-significantly-to-109-per-barrel-as-countries-look-for-options-other-than-russia/articleshow/89936843.cms">85% of its oil demand </a>and the rise in crude oil prices directly increases import bill and expenses. And crude oil prices have increased more than 50% in the last one year <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/crude-oil-surges-significantly-to-109-per-barrel-as-countries-look-for-options-other-than-russia/articleshow/89936843.cms">to $100 from $60 a year </a>ago. This ever-increasing demand for fuel and dependency on imported crude oil for domestic needs has made us wonder if there's an alternative solution to this problem. Yes, there is! <keyword id="169046" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="hydrogen" source="Orion">Hydrogen</keyword>. What is hydrogen and can it be used as a fuel? Hydrogen is a <keyword id="154273" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="clean-energy" source="Orion">clean energy</keyword> alternative and can be made directly from fossil fuels or biomass, or it can be produced by passing electricity through water. <keyword id="8411893" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="green-hydrogen" source="Orion">Green hydrogen</keyword> (GH2) can be generated by breaking water (H20) into hydrogen and oxygen through the electrolysis of water. An electrical current is used to separate hydrogen from oxygen in water and it is extracted without generating any net carbon emissions. This also means that the energy created from hydrogen does not release toxic carbon dioxide, which makes it one of many potential energy sources that could help reduce carbon emissions and slow global warming. <div type="image" title="The process of producing Green Hydrogen" msid="91155052" hostid="261"></div> This green fuel can be utilised as a source of energy in transport, electricity production, and industry activity. It can power anything that uses electricity including electric vehicles and electronic devices. It can also be used as a <a href="https://telanganatoday.com/what-exactly-is-green-hydrogen-and-will-it-be-the-fuel-of-the-future">substitute </a>for natural gas for cooking and heating within homes. If the electricity needed for electrolysis is generated from renewable sources such as solar or wind, the production of green hydrogen does not emit any harmful gases unlike coal and oil. It only emits water vapour. Hydrogen is also the most <a href="https://www.precedenceresearch.com/green-hydrogen-market">abundant </a>element on the planet and offers tremendous promise for innovation. Hence, this is the most eco-friendly way of producing fuel. This is why different countries are rushing to include green hydrogen in their clean energy initiatives. Government bodies around the world have been investing time and money for research into this sustainable source of energy. And India has also taken some steps towards clean energy. According to market research and consulting organisation Precedence <a href="https://www.precedenceresearch.com/green-hydrogen-market">Research</a>, the global green hydrogen market was valued at $1.83 billion in 2021 and is expected to hit over US $89.18 billion by 2030, poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 54% from 2021 to 2030. The report goes on to say that the Asia-Pacific region is the <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/01/11/2364715/0/en/Green-Hydrogen-Market-Size-to-Surpass-US-89-18-Bn-by-2030.html">fastest </a>growing region in the green hydrogen market. <div type="image" title="Growth expectation for global hydrogen market" msid="91155036" hostid="261"></div> Not to forget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/india-can-be-global-hub-of-green-hydrogen-says-pm-narendra-modi-122030401489_1.html">Green </a>Hydrogen Policy and this target of becoming net zero carbon emission by 2070, earlier this year, with the goal of making India a "green hydrogen hub," or a prominent producer and exporter of "green hydrogen." The government policy is aimed at boosting green hydrogen production in the country, which can also reduce India’s dependence on importing over 80% of the oil and gas requirements. The policy focuses on increasing dependency on cleaner forms of energy and abandoning fossil fuels. The policy says green hydrogen and green ammonia is one of the major requirements for reduction of emissions. The government believes hydrogen can play a huge role in shifting to clean energy. It allows companies to easily set up the capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources such as solar or wind anywhere in the country. The government is also planning to bring a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing electrolysers for producing green hydrogen. Large companies like <keyword id="6355199" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="reliance-industries" source="Orion">Reliance Industries</keyword> Limited (RIL), Adani Group, Larsen &amp; Toubro (L&amp;T) with multiple factories that release several forms of chemicals in some way or another will take advantage of the policy. In fact, they have laid out a roadmap already to enter the green hydrogen market. Huge conglomerates like RIL have their own emission target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2035. In June 2021, RIL had also said that it is planning to invest <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/yessarrosendar/2022/01/14/indian-billionaire-mukesh-ambanis-reliance-industries-to-invest-80-billion-in-renewable-energy-push/?sh=57ca8f7d7a2f">$10 billion</a> in <keyword id="34553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="Orion">renewable energy</keyword>. To help make Gujarat net-zero carbon, Reliance proposes to invest $67.4 billion in the state over 10 to 15 years to set up a 100 gigawatt renewable energy power plant and green hydrogen ecosystem development. <ul><li>Reliance Industries has announced to produce green hydrogen and also make an electrolyser factory to manufacture green energy.</li><li>Larsen &amp; Toubro announced plans to manufacture hydrogen electrolysers in India. Recently, it entered into a pact with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay to carry out a joint research and develop the green hydrogen technology.</li><li>Indian Oil Corp, one of the largest fossil fuel retailers, also announced its plans to build a green hydrogen plant at its Mathura refinery in Uttar Pradesh.</li><li>GAIL plans to build India's largest green hydrogen-making plant as it looks to supplement its natural gas business with carbon-free fuel.</li><li>NTPC also plans to produce green hydrogen.</li></ul>The policy allows 25 years of free inter-state power transmission for any new renewable energy plants that produce green hydrogen for projects commissioned before June 30, 2025. This means that a green hydrogen producer will be able to set up a solar power plant and supply in states and not pay any inter-state transmission charges. Currently, green hydrogen technology is still at the stage of emergence. The country has to overcome a few barriers such as price, storage, and logistics, to ensure a smooth transition towards the green hydrogen ecosystem. Here’s an explainer video about everything green hydrogen, challenges that the world currently faces to store GH2, positives from India's <keyword id="13040691" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="green-hydrogen-policy" source="Orion">Green Hydrogen policy</keyword> and five stocks that will benefit from it. <div type="image" title="Everything green hydrogen" msid="91155096" hostid="261"></div>

SIMPLY PUT: Everything you need to know about green hydrogen and India’s new policy around it

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/49480711.cms" />In a bid to enhance bilateral ties, <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> and <keyword id="6358826" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Russia">Russia</keyword> identified areas to strengthen their economic engagement. 
 
The two countries have a target of $30 billion to achieve in the next 10 years. 
 In 2014, <keyword id="99804" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bilateral-trade">bilateral trade</keyword> amounted to $9.51 billion. Indian exports touched $3.17 billion and imports from Russia $6.34 billion. 
 Chairing the 21st India-Russia Inter-Governmental Consultations, Indian External Affairs Minister <keyword id="6355111" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sushma-Swaraj">Sushma Swaraj</keyword> and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister <keyword id="485358" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dmitry-Rogozin">Dmitry Rogozin</keyword> looked at ways to enhance the <keyword id="3108718" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mutual-Direct-Investment">mutual direct investment</keyword> to $15 billion by 2025. 
 Both the sides identified various sectors to achieve these commercial targets, which have been agreed upon by Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> and Russian President <keyword id="43440" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vladimir-Putin">Vladimir Putin</keyword> when they met last year. 
 
Areas including agriculture, pharmaceutical and infrastructure were identified by both sides to strengthen their economic engagement. 
 
Other topics like space, energy, culture and science and technology were also discussed. 
 
India also reiterated its commitment to work towards having 12 Russian nuclear plants as was agreed between Modi and Putin. Russia is an important partner for India in peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

India, Russia move towards achieving $30 billion bilateral trade target

French investigative journal <keyword id="340448" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mediapart" source="Orion">Mediapart</keyword> has made fresh claims that alleged bogus invoices were used that enabled French aircraft maker <keyword id="230239" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="dassault-aviation" source="Orion">Dassault Aviation</keyword> to pay at least 7.5 million euros in secret commissions to a middleman to help it secure the <keyword id="921384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rafale-deal" source="Orion">Rafale deal</keyword> with <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>. According to Mediapart's investigation, Dassault Aviation paid the kickbacks to the intermediary in Mauritius between 2007 and 2012. Mediapart had reported in July that a French judge has been appointed to lead a "highly sensitive" judicial investigation into suspected corruption" and favouritism in the Rs 59,000-crore inter-governmental deal with India for the supply of 36 Rafale fighter jets. There was no reaction yet from the defence ministry or Dassault Aviation on the latest report. "Mediapart is today publishing the alleged 'false' invoices that enabled French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation to pay at least 7.5 million euros in secret commissions to a middleman to help secure the sale of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft to India," the journal said in its new report on Sunday. It alleged that despite the existence of "these documents", the Indian probe agencies decided not to pursue the matter. "It involves offshore companies, dubious contracts and false invoices. Mediapart can reveal that detectives from India's federal police force, the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI), and colleagues from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which fights money laundering, have had proof since October 2018 that French aviation firm Dassault paid at least 7.5 million euros (equivalent to just under Rs 650 million) in secret commissions to middleman Sushen Gupta," Mediapart claimed in the report. "This was in the context of the French firm's long and ultimately successful attempt to secure a 7.8 billion-euro-deal in 2016 to sell 36 of its Rafale fighters to India," it said. BJP's National Information and Technology Department in-charge Amit Malviya targeted the Congress, alleging that the kickbacks were paid during the UPA rule. "Dassault paid Euro 14.6 Mn to intermediary Sushen Gupta over the period 2004-2013 to sell Rafale. So UPA was collecting kickbacks but couldn't close the deal? NDA later scrapped it and got into a contract with the French Govt, which upset Rahul Gandhi no end," tweeted Malviya. The NDA government had inked the deal on September 23, 2016, to procure 36 Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation after a nearly seven-year exercise to procure 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for the <keyword id="15141" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-air-force" source="Orion">Indian Air Force</keyword> did not fructify during the UPA regime. The Congress accused the government of massive irregularities in the deal, alleging that it was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA government during the negotiations for the MMRCA. Prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Congress raised several questions about the deal and alleged corruption, but the government rejected all the charges. Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation and India's defence ministry have previously trashed allegations of any corruption in the contract. India's Supreme Court too in 2019 dismissed petitions seeking a probe into the deal saying there was no ground for it. In a statement published in April, reacting to Mediapart's report on the investigation, Dassault Aviation stated that the group, "acts in strict compliance with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and national laws". SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/heres-how-you-can-find-your-pets-lookalike-using-googles-pet-portraits-feature/articleshow/87603285.cms">Google’s new feature lets you find your pet’s lookalike using Arts &amp; Culture app — here’s how to do it</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/netflix-to-launch-tiktok-like-short-video-feature-for-kids-content/articleshow/87601714.cms">Netflix to launch TikTok-like short video feature for kids content</a>

Dassault reportedly paid at least 7.5 million euros in bribes to a middleman between 2007 and 2012

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a9dd4a3ed1ed8ea188b456a-799/tillerson-says-will-give-trump-several-options-on-iran-nuclear-deal.jpg" alt="U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (R) meets with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif at the State Department in Washington, U.S., October 4, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas" data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif in Washington" />Thomson ReutersSecretary of State Rex Tillerson with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif at the State Department in Washington, October 4, 2017.</div></div></div>ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - As US influence in Islamabad wanes, Pakistan's former adversary Russia is building military, diplomatic and economic ties that could upend historic alliances in the region and open up a fast-growing gas market for Moscow's energy companies.Russia's embrace of Pakistan comes at a time when relations between the United States and its historical ally are unraveling over the war in Afghanistan, a remarkable turnaround from the 1980s, when Pakistan helped funnel weapons and US spies across the border to aid Afghan fighters battling Soviet troops.Though the Moscow-Islamabad rapprochement is in its infancy, and it is neighbor China that is filling the growing void left by the United States in Pakistan, a slew of energy deals and growing military cooperation promise to spark life into the Russia-Pakistan relationship that was dead for many decades."It is an opening," Khurram Dastgir Khan, Pakistan's <keyword id="6354810" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Defense">defense</keyword> minister, told Reuters. "Both countries have to work through the past to open the door to the future."The cozier diplomatic ties have so far focused on Afghanistan, where Russia has cultivated ties to the Afghan Taliban militants who are fighting US troops and have historic links to Islamabad. Moscow says it is encouraging peace negotiations.Both Russia and Pakistan are also alarmed by the presence of Islamic State (IS) inside Afghanistan, with Moscow concerned the group's fighters could spread towards central Asia and closer to home. In Pakistan, IS has already carried out major attacks."We have common ground on most issues at diplomatic levels," Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told Reuters. "It's a relationship that will grow substantially in the future."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a71978424d50524008b4797-1500/gwadar port pakistan.jpg" alt="gwadar port pakistan" data-mce-source="Drazen Jorgic/Reuters" data-mce-caption="A general view of Gwadar port in Gwadar, Pakistan October 4, 2017. Picture taken October 4, 2017. REUTERS/Drazen Jorgic" />Drazen Jorgic/ReutersA general view of Gwadar port in Gwadar, Pakistan, October 4, 2017.</div></div></div>During a trip to Moscow last month by Pakistan's foreign minister, Khawaja Asif, the two countries announced plans to establish a commission on military cooperation to combat the threat of IS in the region.They also agreed to continue annual military training exercises that began in 2016 and followed the sale of four Russian attack helicopters to Pakistan, as well as the purchase of Russian engines for the Pakistan Air Force's JF-17 fighter jets that Pakistan's military assembles on its own soil.The detente has been watched with suspicion by Pakistan's neighbor and arch-foe India, which broadly stood in the Soviet camp during the Cold War era. In the last two decades, the close Russia-India relationship has been underpinned by huge arms sales by Moscow to a country it calls a "strategic partner.""If the Russians start backing the Pakistanis in a big way at the political level, then it creates a problem for us," said Sushant Sareen, a leading expert on India's relations to Pakistan and Afghanistan with New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation.India's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on Russia's ties with Pakistan, but has previously said that its own relations with Moscow have stood the test of time, and that the two nations are building up defense and energy relations, including collaboration on nuclear reactors in India.<h2>Pivoting east</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a9ad5c15124c9947325cafd-800/moscow-sees-extended-us-sanctions-over-ukraine-as-unlawful.jpg" alt="Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a rally to support his bid in the upcoming presidential election at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia March 3, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov" data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="Russian President Putin delivers a speech during a rally to support his bid in the upcoming presidential election at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow" />Thomson ReutersRussian President Vladimir Putin at a rally to support his bid in the upcoming presidential election at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, March 3, 2018.</div></div></div>Russian overtures to Pakistan offer a badly needed diplomatic lifeline for the South Asian nation as it faces growing friction with Western powers over its alleged links to militants.At US urging, and with backing from Britain, France and Germany, a global financial watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), last month decided to place Pakistan back on its watchlist of countries with inadequate terrorist-financing controls, potentially hurting Pakistan's fragile economy.The US move, which Islamabad angrily dismissed as an effort to "embarrass" Pakistan, followed Washington's announcement in January to suspend $2 billion in military assistance.Asif, Pakistan's foreign minister, said his nation made a historical error by "tilting 100 percent" to the West and was now eager build alliances closer to home with the likes of China, Russia and Turkey."We want to correct the imbalance of our foreign policy over 70 years," Asif told Reuters. "We are not divorcing that relationship (with the West). But we want to have a balance in our relationships, we want to be closer to our friends in our region."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a86b1815124c919676465b2-800/pakistan-to-send-troops-to-saudi-arabia-to-train-and-advise.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO - Army personnel drive up to their base beside the ski resort in Malam Jabba, Pakistan February 7, 2017. Picture taken February 7, 2017. REUTERS/Caren Firouz" data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="FILE PHOTO - Army personnel drive up to their base beside the ski resort in Malam Jabba" />Thomson ReutersArmy personnel drive up to their base beside the ski resort in Malam Jabba, Pakistan February 7, 2017.</div></div></div>Defence minister Khan said Pakistan's military, which has historically been heavily reliant on US weapons and aircraft, may have no choice but to ramp up purchases from the likes of Russia.The cooling relationship with Washington is already pushing Islamabad closer to China, which is investing about $60 billion in infrastructure in Pakistan. But analysts say Pakistan is wary of becoming overly dependent diplomatically on Beijing.Pakistan is among several nations that have been courted by Moscow after falling out with Washington, including the Philippines and Qatar, but Russia's long-term aims for the Pakistan relationship are unclear, according to Petr Topychkanov, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute."It's not very transparent, even in Russia," he said. "There is no serious public debate, there is no detailed explanation to the Russian public about what Russia wants in Pakistan."Russia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Moscow's increasingly close relations with Pakistan.<h2>Energy deals</h2>Russia and Pakistan are negotiating potential energy deals worth in excess of $10 billion, according to Pakistani energy officials.Asif said four to five huge power projects "will cement our relationship further."Russia last month appointed an honorary council in the Pakistan's northern Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province, where its companies are in talks to build an oil refinery and a power station.But the biggest deals focus on gas supply and infrastructure to Pakistan, one of the world's fastest growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) import markets.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a3021758229f250008b4c3e-1778/pakistan protest trump.jpg" alt="Pakistan Protest Trump" data-mce-source="AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad" data-mce-caption="Pakistanis rally against America in Peshawar, Pakistan, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017." />AP Photo/Muhammad SajjadPakistanis rally against the US in Peshawar, Pakistan, August 30, 2017.</div></div></div>"On a strategic basis, Russia is coming in very fast on the energy side," said a senior Pakistani energy official.In October, Pakistan and Russia signed an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) on energy, paving the way for Russian state-giant Gazprom to enter negotiations to supply LNG to Pakistan.The talks are expected to conclude within three months and Gazprom is considered "one of the front-runners" to clinch a long-term supply deal, according to the Pakistani official.Based on two monthly LNG cargo deliveries, that deal would be worth about $9 billion over 15 years, he added.There is also growing confidence that a gas pipeline due to be built by Russia, stretching 1,100 km (680 miles) from Lahore to the port city of Karachi, will go ahead.US sanctions against Russian state conglomerate Rostec, as well as a dispute over North-South pipeline transport fees, have held up the $2 billion project since it was signed in 2015.The North-South pipeline would be the biggest infrastructure deal by Russia since early 1970s, when Soviet engineers constructed the Pakistan Steel Mills industrial complex.A Russian company, according to defense minister Khan, is eying up a deal to take over the disused Soviet-built steel mills.(Reporting by Drazen Jorgic; additional reporting by Oksana Kobzeva in Moscow and Sanjeev Miglani in New Delhi; editing by Alex Richardson) <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pakistan-tested-submarine-launched-nuclear-capable-missile-india-babur-2017-1">Pakistan says it has fired its first submarine-launched nuclear-capable missile</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/U5OOjO1U-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

Pakistan's relationship with the US is getting frosty - and it's warming up to Russia

As it prepares to induct a <keyword id="10112494" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="second-batch-of-rafale-jets">second batch of Rafale jets</keyword>, the <keyword id="15141" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> has sent a team of officials to France to oversee the logistical issues and review the training of a hand-picked group of pilots at the Saint-Dizier air base there, officials said on Thursday. The second batch of four <keyword id="6381048" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="rafale">Rafale</keyword> jets is expected to arrive in India in the next four weeks. The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 of these aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. Several teams from the IAF have visited France since January to oversee the progress of the Rafale project including integration of India-specific enhancements and weapons systems, the officials said. The IAF's Rafale project management team has an office in Paris headed by a Group Captain-rank officer. The team is tasked with overseeing the production timelines as well as coordinating training of the crew. A team of experts headed by assistant chief of air staff (projects) reached France earlier this week to coordinate logistical issues as well as training of pilots and technicians, said the officials. The first batch of Rafale jets was finally inducted into the IAF on September 10. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on October 5 said the induction of all 36 Rafale jets will be completed by 2023. Ten Rafale jets have been delivered to India so far and five of them stayed back in France for imparting training to IAF pilots. Known for their air-superiority and precision strikes, the Rafale jets are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The newly inducted fleet has been carrying out sorties in eastern Ladakh where Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a bitter border row for over five months. A group of IAF pilots is currently undergoing training on Rafale jets at the Saint-Dizier airbase in eastern France. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/pnb-yes-bank-central-bank-of-india-idbi-and-six-more-indian-banks-are-the-worst-performing-bank-stocks-in-asia-pacific/articleshow/78679569.cms">10 out of 15 worst-performing bank stocks in Asia-Pacific are Indian — PNB, YES Bank, Central Bank of India, IDBI among them</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/whatsapp-google-amazon-and-facebook-under-the-scanner-for-data-protection-violations-as-supreme-court-calls-on-rbi-and-npci-to-investigate/articleshow/78678174.cms">Whatsapp, Google, Amazon and Facebook under the scanner for data protection violations as Supreme Court calls on RBI and NPCI to investigate</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/chinese-president-xi-jinping-tells-marine-troops-to-be-on-high-alert-and-prepare-for-war/articleshow/78675715.cms">Chinese President Xi Jinping tells marine troops to be on ‘high alert’ and ‘prepare for war’ as tensions in the South China Sea continue to grow</a>

Indian Air Force to induct more Rafale fighter jets — team heads to France for preparations

The first batch of five Rafale fighter jets will be formally inducted into the <keyword id="15141" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> on Thursday in Ambala air base, at a time India is engaged in an escalating border row with China in eastern Ladakh. A galaxy of dignitaries including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, his French counterpart Florence Parly, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar will attend the ceremony. "The program will include ceremonial unveiling of the <keyword id="939956" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rafale-aircraft">Rafale aircraft</keyword>, a traditional 'Sarva Dharma Puja', air display by Rafale and Tejas aircraft as well as by 'Sarang aerobatic team'," an IAF spokesperson said, describing the ceremony as a "very important milestone" in the history of the force. The Rafale jets, produced by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, are known for air-superiority and precision strikes. IAF Spokesperson Wing Commander Indranil Nandi said a traditional water cannon salute will be given to the Rafale fleet before its ceremonial induction into the 17 squadron of the force. The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. The French delegation at the ceremony will include French envoy Emmanuel Lenain, Air Gen Eric Autellet, Vice Chief of <keyword id="162534" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="French-Air-Force">French Air Force</keyword>, Chairman and Chief Executive of Dassault Aviation Eric Trappier and CEO of missile maker MBDA Eric Beranger. After the ceremony, Parly and Singh will hold talks in Ambala on ways to further deepen bilateral defence and security cooperation after the ceremony, they said. Ten Rafale jets have been delivered to India so far and five of them stayed back in France for imparting training to IAF pilots. The delivery of all 36 aircraft is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021. A second batch of four to five Rafale jets are likely to arrive in India by November. Sources said a preliminary discussion on a possible procurement of another batch of 36 Rafale jets by India from France may figure in the talks between Singh and Parly. The Rafale jets are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The Rafale jets are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. Meteor is a next generation beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden. Out of 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater and they will have almost all the features of the fighter jets. While the first squadron of the Rafale jets will be stationed at Ambala air base, the second one will be based at Hasimara base in West Bengal. The 17 Squadron of the IAF which was resurrected on September 10 last year. The squadron was originally raised at Air Force Station, Ambala on Oct 1 1951. The 17 Squadron has many firsts to its credit; in 1955 it was equipped with the first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/airline-ticket-refund-supreme-court-seeks-clarification-from-the-centre-and-grants-ten-days-to-airlines-to-submit-their-reply/articleshow/78014888.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Airline ticket refund: Supreme Court seeks clarification from the Centre and grants ten days to airlines to submit their reply</a>

India to formally induct Rafale aircraft in the 17 Squadron 'Golden Arrows' today

<img class="float_right" src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b7af7c69bedd3f76b5bc38-690-829/gas_to_eu_final_3.png" border="0" alt="russia gas europe">On Wednesday Russia's announced that it will shift all its natural gas flows to Europe via Turkey, instead of Ukraine, reports&#xa0;</img><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/russia-to-shift-ukraine-gas-transit-to-turkey-as-eu-cries-foul.html">Bloomberg News</a>.
"...the Turkish Stream us the only route along which 63 billion cubic metres of Russian gas can be supplied, which at present transit Ukraine. There is no other way," the head of Gazprom Alexei Miller&#xa0;<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/gazprom-warns-eu-turkey-pipeline-lose-russian-gas-212440234.html">said</a>.
The European Union's energy chief said that this would hurt Russia's reputation as a supplier, and the European Commission's&#xa0;VP for energy union said that the decision makes no economic sense, according to Bloomberg.
However, the move makes sense when considering that Russia has been increasingly losing its control over the European gas market after changes in European policy and warmer winters.
Basically, Europe will be forced to link up to Russia's planned energy pipeline to Turkey - or it will lose Russian gas.&#xa0;
&#xa0;"Our European partners have been informed of this and now their task is to create the necessary gas transport infrastructure from the Greek and Turkish border," Miller added in a Gazprom statement.
It unclear&#xa0;what the project will cost Russia (or Europe), although the new deal includes terms stating that Turkey will receive a 6% discount on gas imports for 2015.
Kremlin-funded RT <a href="http://rt.com/business/222619-bulgaria-south-stream-gazprom/">says</a>&#xa0;Moscow will use funds and materials intended for the original South Stream project to build the new Black Sea pipeline.
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<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b7b0c16bb3f79926bd40e6-1200-858/rtr4gavp.jpg" border="0" alt="putin">REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Russia's President Vladimir Putin addresses the media during a news conference at the Presidential Palace in Ankara December 1, 2014.
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<h3>Europe Forced The Hand</h3>
Back in 2009 the European Union passed the Third Energy Package, which said Russia could not both own and control pipelines on the EU territory.&#xa0;(Russia filed a&#xa0;<a href="http://sputniknews.com/voiceofrussia/news/2014_05_01/Russia-sues-EU-over-its-Third-Energy-Package-4716/">lawsuit</a>&#xa0;with the World Trade Organization against the EU over this in April, after the first rounds of Western sanctions.)
Additionally, the EU has been putting taxpayers' money into new inter-connectors, so if Russia decides to cut off supplies, the affected countries can still get gas from somewhere else, according to&#xa0;<a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/01/economist-explains-2?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/why_europe_no_longer_fears_the_russian_gasman">The Economist</a>.&#xa0;
This is a major move because in the past Russia punished countries by cutting off gas.
Ukraine's gas was shut off for&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-ukraine-says-russia-has-resumed-sending-it-gas-2014-12">six months in 2014</a>, as well as at times in&#xa0;<a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/01/economist-explains-2?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/why_europe_no_longer_fears_the_russian_gasman">2006 and in 2009</a>, and&#xa0;Latvia and Lithuania&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-natural-gas-dominance-2014-8#ixzz3Ood3bFc0">were punished</a>&#xa0;by Moscow&#xa0;"for their alleged mistreatment of Russian minorities or for awarding refinery or construction contracts to European rather than Russian companies."
The&#xa0;<a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/01/economist-explains-2?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/why_europe_no_longer_fears_the_russian_gasman">Economist also cites</a>&#xa0;the following changes in Europe:&#xa0;
<ul>
<li>Lithuania started importing liquefied natural gas from Norway.</li>
<li>Ukraine is importing more gas from the West.</li>
<li>The EU has brokered a deal on debts and prices between Ukraine and Russia, which will keep gas going to Ukraine at least for the first quarter of 2015.</li>
</ul>
To cap things off, in December lack of funds forced Russia to&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-russias-south-stream-pipeline-falls-victim-to-ukraine-crisis-energy-rout-2014-12">cancel</a>&#xa0;the South Stream pipeline&#xa0;to supply gas to Europe without crossing Ukraine.
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<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b7093469bedd9d3b7f378a-870-695/screen%20shot%202015-01-14%20at%207.28.24%20pm.png" border="0" alt="europe gas">REUTERS
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<h3>Russia's Hegemonic Control Over Gas In The Past</h3>
Back in late November, Putin coolly noted that "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/putin-winter-coming-oil-prices-2014-12">winter is coming</a>," and thus he was "sure the market will come into balance again in the first quarter or toward the middle of next year."
What he meant by that was that cold weather is great news for the Russian economy because Europeans would have to import more oil and natural gas.
"It is the power of colder weather that allows Russia, as the key supplier of energy to Europe, to apply leverage.&#xa0;That leverage can take the form of higher prices, restricted volumes, a combination of both, or negotiations that directly or indirectly affect these additional costs," Cumberland Advisors Chair&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/putin-gains-leverage-as-winter-approaches-2014-8">David Kotok</a>&#xa0;wrote in August.
Russia&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/putin-europe-cant-stop-buying-russian-gas-2014-10">provided one-third of the natural gas</a>&#xa0;that European countries relied on both for heating their homes and running industries. Because Russia played such a huge role in the gas market, it was able to&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-natural-gas-dominance-2014-8">command high prices</a>.
But&#xa0;the European winter is pretty mild this year, The Economist notes, so "even if Russia did try to interrupt supplies, the effect would be modest."
<h3>Russia's Future Game Plan Outside Of Europe</h3>
Russia has been publically exploring energy (and military) relationships with countries outside of Europe - most notably China and India.
In May, Russia's Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC)&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-and-china-sign-billion-gas-pipeline-mega-deal-2014-5">signed</a>&#xa0;a historic 30-year contract to supply natural gas to China.

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<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b70a1669bedda4387f3792-871-692/screen%20shot%202015-01-14%20at%207.33.30%20pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 01 14 at 7.33.30 PM">REUTERS
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Putin met with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi near the end of 2014, and they agreed to several energy deals. Russia invited India to "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/putin-modi-india-new-deals-2014-12">work on projects</a>" in the Arctic.&#xa0;
"Rosneft and Gazprom, our biggest companies, together with their Indian colleagues, are preparing projects for the development of Russian-Arctic [and] the expansion of liquefied gas," Putin said.&#xa0;
<h3> NOW WATCH:&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-facts-putin-world-controversy-2015-1">11 Facts That Show How Different Russia Is From The Rest Of The World</a></h3>
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