The Lok Sabha will hold a special discussion on Monday on the subject ‘India’s first astronaut aboard the International Space Station – Critical role of the space programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047 – to mark astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s return to India.
Shukla returned to India early Sunday to a rousing welcome by a large number of people waving the tricolour and beating drums at the airport here to celebrate his historic visit to the International Space Station (ISS).
The Monsoon Session of Parliament will resume on Monday, 18 August after a brief break, but there are no signs of a thaw between the government and the Opposition over the demand for a debate on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Monsoon Session ends on 21 August.
Shukla is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and travel to his hometown, Lucknow. He is also expected to return to the capital to participate in the National Space Day celebrations on August 22-23.
Shukla, who became the second Indian to undertake a spaceflight as part of the Axiom-4 mission, and his back-up astronaut-designate Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair were welcomed at the airport by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and ISRO Chairman V Narayanan.
Chinese FM Wang Yi to begin India tour
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two-day visit to India beginning Monday, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The meeting, to be held on Tuesday, assumes significance as it is taking place days before Modi’s planned trip to China to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
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Before calling on the PM, Wang will hold separate talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval that could see both sides deliberate on a range of key issues including border situation, trade and resumption of flight services.
The Chinese foreign minister’s visit is largely seen as part of ongoing efforts by the two neighbours to rebuild their relationship after it came under severe strain following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020.
The two sides are expected to discuss new confidence-building measures for durable peace and tranquillity along their contested border during Wang’s visit, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.
SC to hear plea against appointment of Jharkhand DGP
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a batch of pleas challenging the appointment of Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta on grounds that due process was not followed.
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A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria is scheduled to hear the petitions challenging Gupta’s appointment.
Several petitions have been filed, including by Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly Babulal Marandi, who has challenged the appointment of Gupta as Director General of Police (DGP) of the state.
Gupta was set to retire on April 30 under the Central government’s rules on reaching the age of 60 but the state government wrote to the Centre for extension of his tenure.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd