www.thestatesman.com | India’s National Newspaper since 1818 BRIEFLY ‘India secures rights to explore seabed for precious metals in Indian Ocean’: @TheStatesmanLtd FOLLOW US: | Pages 16 | @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI Soldier killed in J&K gunbattle: Jammu: An Army soldier was killed on Saturday during a fierce gunfight with terrorists in Udhampur district of Jammu division. The deceased, Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand, was critically injured in exchange of fire and later succumbed at hospital where he had been evacuated for treatment, officials said. The encounter broke out last evening in Basantgarh area of Udhampur, a mountainous tri-junction connecting Udhampur, Doda, and Kathua districts. Reinforcements equipped with drones and sniffer dogs were rushed from both Udhampur and Doda, and a massive search operation was underway when last reports were received. ( Page 3) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New delhi, 20 September rime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday emphasised the importance of self-reliance in India's maritime sector asserting that India must become self-reliant for “p eace, stability and prosperity” in the world. The Prime Minister was addressing the 'Samudra se Samriddhi' event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development work worth over Rs 34,200 crore. Emphasising the importance of self-reliance in India's maritime sector, PM Modi said: "For peace, stability, and prosperity in the world, India must become self-reliant." Stressing that the future of coming generations must not be put at risk, PM Modi declared that the solution to a hundred problems is one ~ building an Atmanirbhar Bharat. To achieve this, India must confront challenges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the "Samudra se Samriddhi" programme, in Bhavnagar on Saturday. ANI reduce external dependence, and demonstrate tr ue self-reliance.” PM Modi asserted that the future of 140 crore Indians cannot be left to external forces, nor can the resolve for national development be based on foreign dependency. "Chips or ships, we must make them in India," he said He announced several major | 21 September, 2025 reforms and investments in the maritime sector. Underlining that India has been an expert in building large ships for centuries, the Prime Minister remarked that next-generation reforms will help revive this forgotten legacy. Highlighting that in the past decade, more than 40 ships and submarines have been inducted into the Indian Navy, and barring one or two, all have been built in India, he noted that the massive INS Vikrant was also constructed domestically, including the high-quality steel used in its production. PM Modi emphasised that India possesses the capability and lacks no skill. He assured the nation that the political will required to build large ships is firmly in place. Highlighting the potential of the shipbuilding industry, the Prime Minister said: "Every rupee invested in shipbuilding generates nearly double the economic return. Every job created in a shipyard leads to six to seven new jobs in the supply chain." PM Modi also announced the development of the Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra, which will rank among the top ten ports in the world. "The Vadhavan Port is being developed at a cost exceeding Rs 75,000 crore," he said. He further underscored the importance of self-reliance in India's maritime sector and announced major reforms and investments to promote shipbuilding and port development. With a focus on reducing dependence on foreign ships and promoting domestic industry, PM Modi's vision for India's maritime sector is set to drive economic growth and development in the coming years. India, Canada discuss ways to strengthen security cooperation THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ON SATURDAY SAID NSA AJIT DOVAL AND HIS CANADIAN COUNTERPART NATHALIE G DROUIN MET IN NEW DELHI ON THURSDAY AS PART OF THE REGULAR BILATERAL SECURITY DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New delhi, 20 September Trump hikes H-1B visa fee; move to badly hit IT firms STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 20 September US President Donald Trump o n Fr i d ay s i g n e d a presidential proclamation imposing a staggering $1,00,000 (over Rs 88 lakh) fee on both new and renewal H-1B visa applications, The enormous fee hike ~ ten times the current $1000 fee ~ comes as a major shock for India, with the measure expected to disproportionately impact Indian information technology (IT) professionals and IT firms. The proclamation, titled “Restriction on Entry of C e r t a i n No n i m m i g r a n t Workers”, which comes into effect on 21 September, mandates that no H-1B worker can enter the USA unless their sponsoring employer pays the new fee a n d p rov i d e s p ro o f o f payment. The restriction will remain in force for 12 months, unless extended. The Departments of State and Homeland Security have been directed to reject any petition lacking this documentation. This steep fee is typically paid by the employer, and its implementation could severely impact foreign Asia Cup: Pak skip pre-match presser ahead of Super 4 clash against India STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 20 September The Pakistan team has once again opted out of holding a pre-match press conference ahead of their Super Fours encounter against India in Dubai on Sunday. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had scheduled a media briefing for a Pakistan player or member of the coaching staff at 6 pm local time on Saturday, followed by a three-hour training session at the ICC Academy in Dubai. Training, however, is expected to proceed as planned. This marks the second consecutive game in which Pakistan have skipped their customary media duties, having previously declined a press briefing before their must-win match against the UAE. BHUBANESWAR PM champions self-reliance in India’s maritime sector P New Delhi: Jitendra Singh, Earth Sciences Minister on Saturday made an official announcement about an exploration contract signed by the Ministry, giving India a license to explore the seabeds of the north-west Indian Ocean to hunt for a class of precious metals. The agreement was inked between the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority (ISA) on Monday, 15 September in New Delhi. According to an official document, the contract grants India exclusive rights to explore an earmarked area of 10,000 sq km within the Carlsberg Ridge, a 300,000 sq km stretch in the Indian Ocean for 15 years to look for polymetallic sulphides. | The move comes amid lingering tension from the controversial handshake incident involving match referee Andy Pycroft during Pakistan’s previous game against India. Following the dispute, the ICC arranged a meeting between Pycroft and Pakistan’s captain, coach and team management, during which the referee expressed regret over the events at the toss, including his directive that no handshake take place with India skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Pakistan had earlier interpreted this as a breach of the ICC’s code of conduct and demanded Pycroft’s removal from the tournament. Ahead of the UAE clash, the PCB shared a brief, silent video of the meeting, stating that Pycroft had apologised. The ICC later objected to the filming, citing a protocol breach in the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA), though the PCB has not publicly responded. India will also forego a press conference on match-eve, following tournament convention for teams playing with just a day’s gap. The Men in Blue held an embargoed media briefing after their win over Oman on Friday. Meanwhile, Sunday’s Super Fours game will be the first meeting between India and Pakistan at this stage of the Asia Cup, with Pycroft confirmed as match referee. employees, par ticularly Indian professionals, who represent the largest group of H-1B visa holders. Indian IT companies that outsource operations or send professionals to the USA too are expected to be hit hard, with increased costs likely to affect their prof itability and future expansion plans. The H-1B visa allows US companies to h i re international talent for specialty occupations in science, t e c h n o l o g y, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Valid for an initial period of three years and extendable up to six, it has been a vital channel for Indian professionals to contribute to the US tech industry. The fee hike is expected to hit Indian applicants the hardest. Commenting on Mr Tr ump's move, former NITI Aayog CEO and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant called the decision a setback for US innovation and a major opportunity for India. He said the high fee will deter foreign talent from heading to the USA a n d r e d i r e c t i t t owa r d India’s booming innovation ecosystem. ‘Hike in H-1B visa fee to have humanitarian consequences’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 20 September In its first response to the US H1-B visa fee hike, India on Saturday said the measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families and hoped these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities. “The Government has seen reports relatedtotheproposedrestrictions on the US H1B visa programme. Thefullimplicationsofthemeasure arebeingstudiedbyallconcerned, including by Indian industry, which has already put out an initial analysis clarifying some perceptions related to the H1B programme,’’ the Ministry of External Affairs said. India and Canada discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism, combating transnational organised crime, and Intelligence exchanges, as the two countries seek to reset bilateral ties. The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie G Drouin met in New Delhi on Thursday as part of the regular bilateral security dialogue between the two sides. The meeting provided an opportunity for the two delegations to follow up on the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, in Alberta, Canada, earlier this year. "Both sides acknowledged the clear momentum for rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation at the highest levels of political leadership. They had productive discussions on advancing the bilateral relationship, including in areas such as counterterrorism, combating transnational organised crime and Intelligence exchanges," the MEA said. Both sides also agreed to work closely on the way forward and adopt a collaborative approach towards a new chapter in bilateral relations, it added. "They agreed to strengthen security cooperation and further reinforce existing mechanisms of engagement. The two NSAs also deliberated on the priority areas for future cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global developments," the statement said. Relations between India and Canada suffered a major blow after the then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of Indian officials in the killing of Khalistan supporter Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. New Delhi dismissed the charge as absurd and motivated, while accusing Ottawa of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in the country. End of an era: IAF’s iconic MiG-21 to retire on 26 September after 61 years of service PARWINDER SANDHU New Delhi, 20 September After more than sixty years of glorious service, the legendary MiG-21, often hailed as the backbone of the Indian Air Force, is preparing to take its final bow during a special ceremony being organised at Air Force Station, Chandigarh, on 26 September. The jet that once thundered across the skies, defending the nation with unmatched grit and power, will forever remain etched in the memories of generations of air warriors and citizens alike. As the MiG-21 retires with honour, its proud legacy will now pass on to the indigenously built Tejas LCA Mark 1A, a symbol of India’s self-reliance and a new chapter in the nation’s aviation story. Inducted into the IAF in 1963, the MiG-21 was the country's first supersonic fighter jet, which saw a lot of action during the 1971 war against Pakistan. Giving a befitting symbolic farewell to the iconic fighter jet, Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal AP Singh engaged it in the last operational flight undertaken from the Nal based Air Force Station, near Bikaner, Rajasthan. Speaking about the Russian-origin fighter jet, the IAF chief had called it the IAF’s workhorse. Sharing his experience with the jet, Air Marshal Singh said: "My first experience with MiG-21 was in 1985, when I flew the Type-77 variant at Tezpur. It was a revelation ~ agile, highly maneuverable, and simple in design, though it required some initial training. It's an amazing aircraft to fly. It will be missed by all who flew it." Speaking about its replacement, the CAS said that Tejas was actually designed as a replacement for MiG-21. “It was designed around MiG-21 and it was conceived from some kind of motivation from Mirage. It is going to replace the MiG-21 quite well but it will have to evolve. We have to think of new weapons for Tejas also. In the initial training role, I think Tejas can fit in very well. With contracts for 83 jets already signed and more lined up, I expect that Tejas in its various versions will gradually take over the fleet's role," he had added. Sharing a similar emotional for the retiring jet, IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Jaideep Singh said that the aircraft participated in the 1965 war and played a stellar role in the 1971 conflict, most notably in the attack on the governor's residence in Dhaka on 14 December.