News behind The News – 17 February, 2025

POLITY

• Delhi Assembly Election: The Biggest Looser is the India Bloc

• Modi Contesting Rahul Gandhi on the Ideological Front

• Manipur:  Chief Minister Finally Quits

DEFENCE

• AERO India 2025: More than Just an Exhibition

• Donald's Trump in India - 5th-Gen F-35 Combat Jets to Counter Chinese Military Aviation Capabilities

• F-35, P8I, Stryker & Javelin to Nuclear, AI & Pharma—Big Strategic Takeaways from Modi-Trump Meet

• Tejas MK-1A Delivery to Start by 2nd Quarter of 2025, Contract for 97 More & Combat Helicopters Soon

• Designed for Assisting Fighter Aircraft, HAL Cats Likely to Take First Flight by Year End

• India HAL Rehauls Jet Trainer, Drops ‘Sitara’ Name For ‘Yashas’ in an Image Makeover Bid

• Tata-Boeing Aerospace JY Delivers 300 ‘Made In India’ AH-64 Apache Fuselages

NEIGHBOURS

• India - China: Economic Engagement with China Cannot Come at The Cost of National Security

• India - Pakistan: Both Sides Reluctant to Escalate beyond a Point

• India - Sri Lanka: Unresolved Fisheries Dispute

INTERNATIONAL

• Cover Story: India - US: Pm Modi’s US visit; Ties are Going to Get Closer Says Trump 

• India - France: PM Modi’s visit carried a Significant Geopolitical Context

• India-France CEO Forum: ‘Right Time to Come to India’, PM Modi

• Expert Analyses: AI Action Summit: PM Modi’s Message - Open Source, Sustainability, job Optimism

• India, EFTA Trade Agreement: to Facilitate $100 Billion Investments

ECONOMY

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

• Retail inflation slows

• Global consumer cos upbeat about sales for Oct-Dec and FY24

• India shines in luxury sector

INDUSTRY

• Industrial production growth slows

• Q3 performance of various sectors

MARKETS

• Downturn in Markets

TAX REFORM

• New Income Tax Act: focus on simplification of language, removes obsolete provisions

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

• $1 billion PLI over 3 years fuels record surge in handset exports