WEDNESDAY 07 MAY 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘PM MODI SKIPPED KASHMIR VISIT AFTER INTEL ALERT’ HUMPTY DUMPTY SAT ON A WALL… P7 SENSEX 80,641.07 q155.77 P5 NIFTY 24,379.60 q81.55 KKR FIGHTING TO KEEP PLAYOFFS DREAM ALIVE FRIEDRICH MERZ'S CHANCELLOR BID FAILS IN GERMAN PARLIAMENT P9 ` vs $ 84.33 P12 SILVER `96,900 GOLD `99,960 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 61.70 RELATIVE HUMIDITY India, UK successfully Mamata, in Murshidabad, distributes relief, conclude historic FTA warns against violence Max. 88% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Thunderstorm with light to moderate rain likely to occur. RAINFALL: 00.0 mm FTA pact opens ‘massive export opportunities’ for India's labour-intensive sectors Min. 54% Max: 34.5˚C (-1.2) Min: 27.7˚C (+0.9) SUN RISES 05:01 hrs MOON RISES 12:55 hrs The FTA is expected to boost bilateral trade by an estimated 25.5 bn pounds by 2040. The deal focuses on enhancing market access & reducing trade restrictions. The landmark agreement will open new opportunities for businesses, strengthen economic linkages, and deepen people-topeople ties. NEW DELHI, 6 MAY TEMPERATURE SUN SETS 18:05 hrs MOON SETS 01:16 hrs Full Moon on 12 May THUMBNAILS Adivasi community members perform during the 'Samvidhan Bachao' (Save Constitution) rally, in Ranchi on Tuesday. nANI Union Carbide waste incineration begins: The final process of incinerating the last remaining 307 tons of waste from the defunct Union Carbide factory of Bhopal began at a private incineration facility at Pithampur Industrial Area near Indore in Madhya Pradesh late evening on Monday. According to officials, the waste is expected to be incinerated completely in 50-55 days. The incineration process is being conducted on the directives of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and officials of the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) are monitoring the procedure. (Page 5) I ndia and the United Kingdom on Tuesday successfully concluded a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), along with a Double Taxation Avoidance Convention in a historic deal that will open up massive export opportunities for many labourintensive sectors in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his United Kingdom counterpart Keir Starmer announced the successful conclusion of the long-awaited India–UK FTA, which comes after three years of negotiations. During a telephonic conversation, the two leaders described it as a historic milestone in the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that would foster trade, investment, innovation and job creation in both the economies. They agreed that the landmark agreements betweenthetwomajormarket economies of the world will open new opportunities for businesses, strengthen economic linkages, and deepen people-to-people ties. PM Modi posted on social media platform X: “Delighted to speak with my friend PM @Keir_Starmer. In a historic milestone, India and the UK have successfully concluded an ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement, along with a Double Contribution Convention. These landmark agreements will further deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies. I look forward to welcoming PM Starmer to India soon.” The FTA is expected to boost bilateral trade by an estimated 25.5 billion pounds by 2040. The deal focuses on enhancing market access and reducing trade restrictions. The Commerce Ministry, in a statement, said that 99 per cent of Indian exports will benefit from zero duty and the agreement will provide significant boost to trade in services, such as IT/ITeS, financial services, professional services, other business services and educational services. As part of the agreement, tariffs on items like whisky, advanced manufacturing parts, and various food products will be reduced. Quotas will also be established for automobile imports on both sides. These measures are aimed at fostering stronger ties between the two countries, streamlining trade regulations, and promoting economic cooperation. Also, Indianemployeestemporarily working in the UK and their employers will be exempt from social security contributions for three years under the Double Contribution Convention, enhancing India’s global service competitiveness. (See Page 10) Civil defence drill announced in 244 vulnerable districts PARWINDER SANDHU NEW DELHI, 6 MAY Preparedness exercise Amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, the MHA has devised the civil defence drills to prepare civilians and government systems to respond during emergencies including war, missile attacks, or aerial strikes 244 vulnerable districts and 259 towns falling within these districts have been shortlisted by the govt for the civil defence drills on 7 May The key aspects of the drills will include training of civilians, students, crash blackout measures, provision for early camouflaging of vital installations and updating of the evacuation plan and its rehearsal, and operationalisation of Air Raid Warning Sirens The upcoming civil defence drill may include temporary blackouts, suspension of mobile signals, or traffic signals, and diversion of traffic. Further, evacuation drills or public announcements may be undertaken along with police and paramilitary forces playing out a war-like emergency. A day after the Ministry of Home Affairs announced nationwide civil defence drills, a list of 244 districts where the drills will be conducted was released. As security concerns rise amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, the MHA has devised the drills to prepare civilians and government systems to respond during emergencies including war, missile attacks, or aerial strikes. In the scheduled drills, which are being undertaken under Civil Defence Rules, 1968, apart from the local administration and security authorities, the Civil Defence Wardens, Home Guards, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), have been roped in to play an active role. According to reports, 259 towns that fall in the shortlisted districts are divided into three categories. The selection is based on the tactical and strategical vulnerability of The areas/locations shortlisted for West Bengal include: Coochbehar, ˘ Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Siliguri, Greater Kolkata, Durgapur, Haldia, Hasimara, Kharagpur, Burnpur-Asansol, Farakka Khejuriaghat, Chittaranjan, Balurghat, Alipurduar, Raiganj, Islampur, Dinhata, Makhliganj, Mathabhanga, Kalimpong, these towns from the enemy's attack point of view. The key aspects of the drills will include training of civilians, students, crash blackout measures, provision for early camouflaging of vital installations and updating of the evacuation plan and its rehearsal, and operationalisation of Air Raid Warning Sirens. Earlier, a 30-minute blackout drill was conducted in the Ferozepur army cantonment by the authorities. The drills which date back to the cold-war era were exercised to recreate real-life sce- Jaldhaka, Kurseong, Kolaghat, Bardhaman, Birbhum, East Medinipur, West Medinipur, Howrah, Hooghly, Murshidabad. narios pertaining to an armed attack. The upcoming civil defence drill on 7 May may include temporary blackouts, suspension of mobile signals, or traffic signals, and diversion of traffic. Further, evacuation drills or public announcements may be undertaken along with police and paramilitary forces playing out a war-like emergency. It was also reported that post the drill, the authorities are required to prepare and present an "Action Taken Report" documenting the event, response gaps, and recommendations. India climbs 3 spots in Human Development Index with highest AI skills penetration STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 MAY India climbed three spots in the Human Development Index (HDI) to 130, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said on Tuesday. It also stated that India is in a unique position globally as a rising artificial intelligence powerhouse, with the highest self-reported AI skills penetration. The index is part of the Human Development Report (HDR) which ranks 193 countries. Ireland tops the list, followed by Norway, Switzerland, Denmark and Germany. India is ranked at par with Bangladesh, while its neighbours Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan are at 89th, 145th and 168th, respectively. “With an HDI value increasing from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, India remains in the medium human development category, moving closer to the threshold for high human development (HDI more than or equal to 0.700),” the report said. This marks a three-place rise from its 2022 rank of 133. India also demonstrated notable improvement in reducing gender inequality, climbing from 108 (out of 166 countries) in 2022 to 102 out of 193 countries in 2023 on the Gender Inequality Index (GII). The theme of the Human Development Report “A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of AI”. Despite this progress, India scored 0.874 on the Gender Development Index (GDI), placing it among Group 5 countries which are considered to have low success in closing the gender gap. On the HDI front, with a value of 0.685, India remains in the medium human development category, but is inching closer to the threshold of high human development, set at 0.700. Among BRICS nations, India trails Brazil (89th), Russia (59th), China (75th), and South Africa (110th). Regionally, Sri Lanka leads, while Nepal and Bhutan lag. India’s GNI per capita rank is seven positions below its HDI rank, indicating income remains a relative weakness compared to health and education. Global HDI progress has slowed to its weakest pace since 1990, excluding the pandemic years, as per the report. The gap between Very High and Low HDI countries has widened for four consecutive years, reversing decades of narrowing disparities. All regions face stalled HDI growth projections for 2024. The improvement is attributed to economic growth and targeted social protection and welfare programs. India’s life expectancy at birth rose from 71.7 years in 2022 to 72 years in 2023, the highest since the index’s inception. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 6 MAY Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on a visit to Murshidabad, which had been hit by violence amid protests against the amendments to the Waqf Act 1995, reiterated her stand on the Centre’s legislation, saying that Bengal will not implement the legislation, and any protest against the legislation should be done in Delhi. Speaking at a public benefit distribution programme, Miss Banerjee said: “Don’t get provoked by any fundamentalist or the BJP, which always tries to wedge a divide among people. Don’t ignite any communal riots here on the Centre’s legislation. If somebody has any angst regarding the legislation, they should protest in Delhi but not here. It is a completely closed case here in Bengal as we have already made our stand clear that we won’t implement the Centre’s Waqf legislation here. I don’t want any riots. Nobody should get provoked. If it happens, none other than me would be the greatest foe.” Addressing the minority community, the Chief Minister, said: “Should anybody try to rob you of your rights, then the onus is on me to save that. If the Centre does bring about legislation, as a state we cannot do much But having said that, you must recall how I had fought against the NRC and CAA legislations, taking to the streets. I won’t let anybody snatch your rights and properties. Leave it to me, and I will see to it. You should maintain communal harmony because I am not for any riots, and I’m for humanity.” Miss Banerjee, who held an administrative meeting before addressing the crowd at Suti, disbursed cheques amounting to 1.20 crore to 286 families allegedly affected by the riots. Ms Banerjee announced from the podium at Suti: “I went to Dhulian today and met 400 families. Cheques worth 1.20 crore had been disbursed among the 280 families affected by the violence. Those who had been affected the most would be provided with term loans. Laying of foundation stones and unveiling of about 167 projects in Murshidabad was been done today.” She also announced that for the benefit of the people of Murshidabad, a new subdivision office comprising Dhulian, Suti and Farakka was being set up. IAF plans massive drill near IB in Rajasthan STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 MAY The Indian Air Force is engaging in a major day and night exercise along with the International Border between India and Pakistan, in Rajasthan. The IAF has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for the exercise slated to begin on Wednesday. According to the NOTAM, the exercise is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. on 7 May and will continue until 9:30 p.m. on 8 May, with restricted airspace in the affected areas. Many of India’s frontline fighter jets, including Rafales, Mirage 2000s and Sukhoi-30s will be part of the exercise. The exercise comes amidst the civil defence mock drills, announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 244 districts across the country.