India Roundup: Indians discharged from Russian army, curfew, iOS development lab
Indians discharged from Russian army
Indians who worked as support staff to the Russian Army were discharged following India's demand, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported on February 26. Many Indians have reportedly been employed by the Russian military as security assistants, and in some instances, they have even been forced to engage in combat alongside Russian soldiers near Russia's border with Ukraine, The Hindu reports. The MEA stated that the Asian nation remains committed to pursuing all cases of Indian nationals seeking early discharge from the Russian Army. "Each and every such case brought to the attention of the Indian embassy in Moscow has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities and those brought to the attention of the Ministry have been taken up with the Russian embassy in New Delhi," the MEA said in a statement.
Imposed curfew
A curfew has been imposed in a town called Ambad taluka, in India’s Maharashtra, a state in the western peninsular region of India due to law and order concerns over Indian activist Manoj Jarange-Patil's Maratha reservation agitation. According to Hindustan Times, the order states that Jarange plans to travel to Mumbai to protest, potentially leading to traffic disruptions on the Dhule-Mumbai highway. Government offices, schools, national highways, milk distribution, media outlets, and hospitals are exempt from the curfew, Hindustan Times reports.
Inauguration of iOS development lab
Apple has opened an iOS Development Lab at Galgotias University in Delhi, aiming to nurture the next generation of iOS developers. Apple Senior Vice President Greg Joswiak announced the news on his X (formerly Twitter) account on February 20. “Today marked the grand opening of the iOS Development Lab at Galgotia University in Delhi. I loved meeting with the next generation of iOS developers and seeing the lab outfitted with 100 iMacs,” the Apple senior VP said. The initiative, which is part of the TWITCH collaboration, provides students with hands-on learning opportunities and access to Apple's learning materials and industry best practices. Hindustan Times quotes Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO of Galgotias University to have said, “The learnings from the iOS Development Centre will have a far-reaching impact well beyond the boundaries of the centre, specifically in the teaching-learning pedagogy of the entire university.”
Teachers booked over students' suicide
Two teachers of a government-aided school have been charged with the suicide of a student, who was found hanging at home after being subjected to physical and mental torture, Press Trust of India reports. The student took his life on the evening of February 15 at home, according to the victim's relatives, after certain school teachers had physically and mentally tormented him. According to the Press Trust of India, the teachers were charged under sections of the country’s law for voluntarily inflicting hurt and the Juvenile Justice Act which is non-bailable.
Addition of 18 nuclear power reactors
India plans to add 18 more nuclear power reactors, generating 13,800 MWe of electricity by 2031-2032, increasing its share of atomic power in the energy mix to 22,480 MWe. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) announced the move after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 22, dedicated two reactors at the Asian nation’s Kakrapar Atomic Power Station in Gujarat, a state along the western coast of India, Indian Express reports. “These reactors have been designed, constructed, commissioned, and operated by NPCIL, with the supply of equipment and execution of contracts by Indian industries/ companies, reflecting the true spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” the NPCIL said.
