News behind The News – 26 July, 2021

POLITY

• A Spy in my Phone

• Pegasus Spyware issue Assumes Political Overtones

• Prashant Kishor coordinating an Anti-BJP coalition

• Jammu and Kashmir: Increase in Militancy

• Two-Third Indians have antibodies: National Serosurvey

DEFENCE

• Defence Agency successfully tests Akash-NG Surface-to-Air Missile

• Defence Agency successfully tests Man-Portable Anti-Tank Missile for Minimum Range

• DRDO locally Develops High Strength beta Titanium Alloy on Industrial Scale

• India Launches $5.9-billion tender for six Futuristic Attack Submarines

• India accepts delivery of Lockheed Multirole Helicopters in US

• Comment: Pakistan’s Support to Taliban is behind The Escalating Violence in Afghanistan

• Comment: Eastern Ladakh – in focus again!

• Comment: Drone Terror in India: a Challenge to Deter

NEIGHBOURS

• Expert Analyses: Afghanistan: India Faces Serious Issues

• China’s Possible Role in Stabilising Afghanistan

• Afghan War, and its Spillover effect, will singe Entire Region, including Pakistan and India

• India - China: Both Unyielding

• Foreign Policy changes in China from India’s Perspective

• Economic and Public health crises pushing Sri Lanka more and more towards China

• Nepal: Deuba wins vote of Confidence

• Nepal’s new government needs to do a balancing act amidst India-China rivalry

INTERNATIONAL

• Quad vs Possible China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran Grouping

ECONOMY

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

• ADB cuts FY22 economic growth forecast to 10%

• Nomura pegs FY22 GDP growth at 10.4%

• GST collection in July likely to go up

• Slow monsoon: growth and inflation worries

• Retail sales grow over 50% YoY

POLICY INITIATIVES

• Petroleum reserve policy modified to boost private interest

MONEY AND BANKING

• Phased implementation strategy for a central bank digital currency

INDIA NEEDS COMPREHENSIVE LABOR MARKET REVIVAL MEASURES TO IMPROVE PANDEMIC-HIT ECONOMY