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Trump’s Kashmir statement: While questioning Modi, Randeep Surjewala forgets to give credit to Nehru for ‘third party mediation’ in Kashmir issue

OpIndia Staff
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Trump’s Kashmir statement: While questioning Modi, Randeep Surjewala forgets to give credit to Nehru for ‘third party mediation’ in Kashmir issue

Trump’s statement on Kashmir has kicked a quite a hornet’s nest. While trolls from the media and politics spread falsehood regarding India’s stand despite a clarification from the MEA, Congress leaders seem to have forgotten their legacy.

Congress’ communication in-charge Randeep Surjewala last night took to Twitter to claim that India has never accepted third party mediation in Jammu and Kashmir.


“To ask a foreign power to mediate in J&K by PM Modi is a sacrilegious betrayal of country’s interests,” he tweeted. Surjewala, however, forgot one very small detail. The enduring problem of Jammu and Kashmir is because of the monumental mistakes made by then PM Jawaharlal Nehru.

When Pakistan first invaded the then independent princely state of Kashmir in Oct 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the instrument of accession to India in return for help from the Indian Army. The Indian Army quickly recovered two-thirds of Kashmir.

In fact, Nehru requested UN intervention to broker peace as early as Jan 1, 1948, when the Army was still in the thick of operations. One wonders what kind of impact this would have had on the morale of the Indian soldier still fighting on the frontier when he heard that his government was already pleading for peace. One wonders how history would have turned out if the Army had been allowed to recapture the whole of Kashmir instead of Nehru making the blunder of taking the matter to the UN.

The UN brokered a ‘ceasefire’. Since that day, Kashmir has remained an open wound.

And while India has maintained that no such request was made to the US, perhaps it is a good time for Congress to revisit the history. After all, they really do like to give Nehru the credit for everything. If Nehru should be thanked for Chandrayaan2, he should also be ‘thanked’ for the Kashmir blunder.

No, there is no new tax on maintenance you pay to RWA as a flat owner

OpIndia Staff
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No, there is no new tax on maintenance you pay to RWA as a flat owner

There has been an outrage over a recent circular issued by the Finance Ministry that flat owners will have to pay GST at 18%, if their monthly contribution to the resident welfare association (RWA) exceeded Rs 7,500.

As soon as the Finance Ministry tax reform rules hit the public domain, a certain section of media has been actively propagating that the introduction of GST into RWAs charges tantamounted to ‘tax terrorism’. However, there has been no introduction of any new tax system pertaining to housing societies.

In fact, the Finance Ministry has tweaked an earlier ‘Service tax’ regime to bring in more transparent and efficient GST into housing societies and RWAs.

Is it really a new form ‘tax terrorism’ on the flat owners?

The Finance Ministry has notified reforms stating that all flat owners should have to pay GST at 18 per cent of their monthly contribution to resident welfare association (RWA) if it exceeds Rs.7,500. As per the rules, RWAs are required to collect GST on monthly subscription/contribution charged from its members if such payment is more than Rs 7,500 per flat per month and the annual turnover of RWA by way of supply of services and goods exceeds Rs 20 lakhs.

In a circular, the Finance Ministry has also relaxed norms by increasing the exemption limit. According to the norms, Goods and Service Tax (GST) is exempted to all individuals whose monthly maintenance charges are less than Rs.7,500.

The Ministry has further also clarified that RWAs are entitled to take input tax credit (ITC) of Goods and Services Tax (GST) paid by them on capital goods (generators, water pumps, lawn furniture etc.), goods (taps, pipes, other sanitary/hardware fillings etc.) and input services such as repair and maintenance services.

The Ministry has also said that in such cases the ceiling of Rs.7,500 per month per member shall be applied separately for each residential apartment owned by him.

Why is the outrage?

The sense of false outrage over new tax circular comes on the pretext of a notion that the Finance Ministry has introduced a new tax structure into the housing sector, especially Resident Welfare association, which hitherto were free of any tax system as claimed by the media and some section in the social media.

However, it is untrue as a ‘Service tax’ system is already in place to tax flat owners on the monthly maintenance bills they pay to RWAs.

GST: More tax-friendly than previous Service tax regime

In the earlier ‘Service tax’ system, the system of tax credits never existed. The GST rules will now provide for an option for getting tax credits on services and goods as mentioned above.

According to popular Twitter economist Ashu Muglikar, there has been a lot of improvements within the proposed GST introduction. Firstly, the exemption limit on the annual turnover of RWA by way of supply of services and goods has been increased from Rs.10 lakhs to Rs.20 lakhs.

Secondly, If a person has multiple apartments under the limit of Rs.7,500, the exemption rules apply to all of those apartments, which was not available in the earlier tax system.

For example, if a person owns two residential apartments in a residential complex and pays Rs 15,000 per month as maintenance charges towards the maintenance of each apartment to the RWA (Rs.7,500 per month in respect of each residential apartment), the exemption from GST shall be available to each apartment.

Thirdly, the new GST provisions bring in exemption limit of Rs.7,500. Any registered RWA can collect GST only if actual individual home maintenance is Rs.7,500 or more. Earlier tax system had no such lower threshold.

The proposed GST introduction into monthly maintenance charges paid by the individual flat owners to RWAs is neither a new one nor a form of tax terrorism as claimed by sections of media. In fact, the recent changes will bring in more transparency by bringing efficient and effective means of tax collection. Most importantly, it makes maintenance much lesser with raising exemption limit and by bringing more clarity on tax credits.

Congress continues to play politics even after MEA denies Trump’s statement on Kashmir

OpIndia Staff
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Congress continues to play politics even after MEA denies Trump’s statement on Kashmir

The Ministry of External Affairs has categorically and in the strongest words denied the assertion by American President Donald Trump that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate in the Kashmir issue. However, despite the clarification, Congress seems to be hell-bent on playing politics over the sensitive issue.

Now, Congress MP K Suresh had given an Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over “US President Donald Trump’s claim that PM Narendra Modi asked Trump to mediate in Kashmir”.


On a question on Kashmir, Imran Khan had said that the President of the most powerful country in the world is best suited to resolve the issue, and he requested Trump to mediate between India and Pakistan. To this Trump responded, “I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago, we talked about this subject, and he actually said, ‘would you like to be a mediator, or arbitrator’, I said where, he said Kashmir”. He added, if I can help, I would love to be a mediator. Although he also said that it is impossible that two incredible countries with very smart leadership can’t solve a problem like this. But if you would want me to mediate or arbitrate, I would be willing to do.

However, the MEA had vehemently rejected this charge. Within just an hour of the statement, the MEA took to Twitter to clarify that no such request was made by PM Modi to President Donald Trump.

Interestingly, even the Whitehouse Press Release had no mention of the Kashmir issue or any request of mediation.

After the clarification, US Congressman from San Fransisco tweeted informing the public that he had apologised to the Indian Ambassador for the ‘amateurish and embarrassing mistake’ of President Donald Trump.

The Complete ICC World Test Championship Guide: Here’s everything you need to know about it

OpIndia Staff
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The Complete ICC World Test Championship Guide: Here’s everything you need to know about it

Remember the Asia Test Championship held in the late 90s and early 2000? When India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka played against each other to show their cricket supremacy in the continent.

The ICC wants the bilateral series more engaging and to make it successful they have come with ICC World Test Championship.

The ICC World Test Championship will start on August 1 this year and will run till June 2021. Nine top test teams (India, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh) will take part in the championship.

So are you wondering how it works? What if the final is tied or a draw, what will happen then? We try to make it simple for you, with point by point explanation of the ICC World Test Series.

How it will work

The nine top-ranked Test teams will each play six series, three at home and three away, against mutually chosen opponents in the next two years. Every side will face six of the other eight teams, and this isn’t a complete round-robin league. Each series will have between two and five Tests, and not all sides will play the same number of Tests.

The Point System

Each series is worth 120 points, irrespective of the number of Tests in the series. A side can have a maximum of 720 points over a period. The two nations with the most points at the end of the period will contest the final at Lord’s on June 2021 to decide the winner.

The teams playing fewer Tests are not at a disadvantage; the same 120 points will be available from each series. Points will be awarded for Tests, not series, to do away with ‘dead rubbers.’ The 120 points will be split equally among all the Tests in a series.

Matches in series Points for a win Points for a tie Points for a draw
2 60 30 20
3 40 20 13
4 30 15 10
5 24 12 8

Number of Tests to be played by each country

Each team will play against six nations and will miss playing against 2. For Example – India will not play against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Or even if they play against each other during the period, the series will not be included in Test Championship.

New Zealand and England will play against each other in November but will not be counted. The series is on the FTP (Future Test Program), but the results of these games will not affect the World Test Championship. The same is for other bilateral series involving Ireland and Afghanistan.

The final will be played at Lord’s in 2021 and in case of a tie or a draw, the side that finished on top of the table in the two-year league cycle will be declared the champion.

Teams Matches Home Away Not Playing
Australia 19 9 v Pak, NZ, Ind 10 v Eng, Ban, SA v SL & WI
Bangladesh 14 7 v Aus, NZ, WI 7 v Ind, Pak, SL v Eng & SA
England 22 11 v Aus, WI, Pak 11 v SA, SL, Ind v Ban & NZ
India 18 10 v SA, Ban, Eng 8 v WI, NZ, Aus v Pak & SL
New Zealand 14 7 v Ind, WI, Pak 7 v SL, Aus, Ban v Eng & SA
Pakistan 13 6 v SL, Ban, SA 7 v Aus, Eng, NZ v Ind & WI
South Africa 16 9 v Eng, SL, Aus 7 v Ind, WI, Pak v Ban & NZ
Sri Lanka 13 7 v NZ, Eng, Ban 6 v Pak, SA, WI v Aus & Ind
West Indies 15 6 v Ind, SA, SL 9 v Eng, NZ, Ban v Aus & Pak

The Complete Schedule

Australia

July-August-September 2019: Five Ashes Tests away in England
November 2019: Two home Tests against Pakistan
December 2019-January 2020: Three home Tests against New Zealand
February 2020: Two away Tests against Bangladesh
November-December 2020: Four home Tests against India
February-March 2021: Three away Tests against South Africa

Bangladesh
November 2019: Two away Tests in India
January-February 2020: Two away Tests in Pakistan
February 2020: Two home Tests against Australia
July-August 2020: Three away Tests in Sri Lanka
August-September 2020: Two home Tests against New Zealand
January-February 2021: Three home Tests against Windies

England

July-August 2019: Five Ashes Tests at home against Australia
December 2019-January 2020: Four away Tests in South Africa
March 2020: Two away Tests in Sri Lanka
June-July 2020: Three home Tests against Windies
July-August 2020: Three home Tests against Pakistan
January-February 2021: Five away Tests in India

India
July-August 2019: Two away Tests in West Indies
October-November 2019: Three home Tests against South Africa
November 2019: Two home Tests against Bangladesh
February 2020: Two away Tests in New Zealand
December 2020: Four away Tests in Australia
January-February 2021: Five home Tests against England

New Zealand

July-August 2019: Two away Tests in Sri Lanka
December 2019-January 2020: Three away Tests in Australia
February 2020: Two home Tests against India
August-September 2020: Two away Tests in Bangladesh
November-December 2020: Three home Tests against Windies
December 2020: Two home Tests against Pakistan

Pakistan

October 2019: Two home Tests against Sri Lanka
November-December 2019: Two away Tests in Australia
January-February 2020: Two home Tests against Bangladesh
July-August 2020: Three away Tests in England
December 2020: Two away Tests in New Zealand
January-February 2021: Two home Tests against South Africa

Sri Lanka
July-August 2019: Two home Tests against New Zealand
October 2019: Two away Tests against Pakistan
March-April 2020: Two home Tests against England
July-August 2020: Three home Tests against Bangladesh
January 2021: Two away Tests in South Africa
February-March 2021: Two away Tests in West Indies

South Africa
October 2019: Three away Tests in India
December 2019-January 2020 – Four home Tests against England
July-August 2020: Two away Tests in West Indies
January 2021: Two home Tests against Sri Lanka
January-February 2021: Two away Tests against Pakistan
February-March 2021: Three home Tests against Australia

West Indies
July-August 2019: Two home Tests against India
June-July 2020: Three away Tests in England
July-August 2020: Two home Tests against South Africa
November-December 2020: Three away Tests in New Zealand
January-February 2021: Three away Tests in Bangladesh
February-March 2021: Two home Tests in Sri Lanka

Kashmir statement: US congressman apologises to Indian ambassador for Trump’s ‘amateurish and embarrassing mistake’

OpIndia Staff
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Kashmir statement: US congressman apologises to Indian ambassador for Trump’s ‘amateurish and embarrassing mistake’

Brad Sherman, the representative of the 30th Congressional district in Calfornia has slammed US President Donald Trump’s statement over the Kashmir issue. Rep. Sherman has called Trump’s statement amateurish and delusional.


Taking to Twitter, Rep. Sherman, a Democrat, stated that everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that India has been consistently opposing third-party mediation over the Kashmir issue. He added that everyone also knows that India’s PM Modi would never suggest such a thing and Trump’s statement is amateurish, delusional and embarrassing.

Sherman further added that he has spoken to India’s ambassador in the USA Harsh Shringla and has apologised for Trump’s mistake.

US President Donald Trump has stated yesterday that he had spoken to PM Modi about two weeks ago and claimed that PM Modi had asked him to help resolve the Kashmir issue between the two countries. During the joint press conference after talking to Pakistan’s Imran Khan, Trump had claimed that PM Modi had requested him to be a mediator or arbitrator in the Kashmir issue, to which he has agreed.

Trump had made this comment after Imran Khan stated that the US is the most powerful country in the world and he expects it to help resolve the issue between the two neighbours.

India had immediately rejected the claim and had stated that no such request has been made by PM Modi to President Trump. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar has asserted that India’s stand over the issue has always been clear that all outstanding issues with Pakistan will only be discussed bilaterally.

MEA statement

Trump’s statement has been receiving wide criticism and slamming in the USA from political and media circles.


Edward Luce, the Financial Times’ US National Editor has stated that Trump’s statement has been deeply provocative to India whose stand on the Kashmir issue has always been clear. He added that India is the USA’a  natural ally in the rivalry against China and it is hard to overstate the stupidity of Trump’s statement.

We have better relation with Pakistan after stopping the $1.3 billion aid: Donald Trump to press during meeting with Imran Khan

OpIndia Staff
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We have better relation with Pakistan after stopping the $1.3 billion aid: Donald Trump to press during meeting with Imran Khan

Donald Trump, the President of the United States of America seems to have had a rather ‘productive’ meeting with Imran Khan. the Prime Minister of Pakistan. During the statements by both President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Imran Khan to the press, Donald Trump said that the relationship between the USA and Pakistan has improved after the former stopped the $1.3 billion aide package that it was provinding to Pakistan.

President Donald Trump said that earlier, America was giving an aide package of $1.3 billion to Pakistan and the latter was ‘not doing anything for the USA’.

The President said that despite the aide, Pakistan was indulging in subversive activities and going against the USA and hence, he ended the massive aide package about a year and a half ago.

President Trump then goes on to say that ever since the aide package has been stopped by America, the relationship between Pakistan and USA has improved.

Earlier, President Trump had been caught on the wrong foot after he had claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met him a couple of week ago and specifically asked him if he would like to mediate in the Kashmir issue.

That statement did not go down well for POTUS since the Ministry of External Affairs soon came out with a stinging rebuttal to his statement. The MEA reiterated that no such request was made by PM Modi to President Trump.

It was expected that India will deny this claim by POTUS, and the MEA issued the statement on Twitter within just an hour of the news of the comment became available. The MEA spokesperson said that no such request thas been made by PM Narendra Modi to the US President.

It may be noted that although president Trump claimed about Modi requesting him to mediate on Kashmir, in the official statement issued by White House on Imran Khan’s visit, it was not mentioned. The statement does not even mention Kashmir. Therefore it can be presumed PM Modi has not made any such request with the president, and he may have misunderstood something Modi said during their meeting at the G-20 summit in Japan last month.

Assorted trolls from politics and media spread falsehood despite official clarification by India over Trump’s Kashmir comments

OpIndia Staff
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Assorted trolls from politics and media spread falsehood despite official clarification by India over Trump’s Kashmir comments

Last night the United States President Donald Trump stirred up a controversy by saying that Prime Minister Modi has asked him to mediate between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. However, the Ministry of External Affairs promptly issued clarification that India has not sought any such help.

However, people who would not let facts get in the way of narrative continued to spread the falsehood on the same. A journalist with The News Minute was waiting for the official response, over eight hours after an official response.


Because, why would India not give an official response to something as serious as this.


Ramanathan’s tweet was also retweeted by The Wire’s journalist Rohini Singh. Singh had spread this falsehood despite having retweeting MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar’s tweet rejecting Trump’s claims earlier. Singh knew India’s official response. However, instead of informing her colleague Ramanathan, who ‘wasn’t following’ the updates, she chose to spread the falsehood.


Guess this is why they put up the disclaimer, “RTs aren’t endorsements”. Former NDTV journalist, who generally gets excited when a BJP leader falls ill, was so taken by Trump’s statement that she watched it on loop.


Riding on the same bandwagon is also Congress communication in-charge, Randeep Surjewala.


At the stroke of midnight, when Surjewala slept, MEA was awake and calling the bluff of POTUS.

Last night, President of USA Donald Trump had claimed that PM Narendra Modi had requested him to mediate on the long-standing Kashmir dispute. He had made this comment while addressing a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Washington DC. Within an hour, the MEA spokesperson said that no such request thas been made by PM Narendra Modi to the US President.

It has been India’s longstanding position that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and no third party intervention is welcome. Pakistan has been trying to bring the issue to the international level, have tried to bring various countries and UN as mediators, but India has been successfully resisting that attempt.

It may be noted that although president Trump claimed about Modi requesting him to mediate on Kashmir, in the official statement issued by White House on Imran Khan’s visit, it was not mentioned. The statement does not even mention Kashmir. Therefore it can be presumed PM Modi has not made any such request with the president, and he may have misunderstood something Modi said during their meeting at the G-20 summit in Japan last month.

India rejects US president Donald Trump’s claim that PM Modi had requested him to mediate on Kashmir issue

OpIndia Staff
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India rejects US president Donald Trump’s claim that PM Modi had requested him to mediate on Kashmir issue

India has denied the claim made by United States President Donald Trump that Indian PM had requested him to mediate on the Kashmir issue. Raveesh Kumar, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, confirmed that no such request has been made by Narendra Modi. He added, “it has been India’s consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross border terrorism. The Shimla Agreement & the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India & Pakistan bilaterally”.


Earlier today President of USA Donald Trump had created a storm by claiming that he was requested by Narendra Modi on the long-standing Kashmir dispute. He had made this comment while addressing a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Washington DC.

On a question on Kashmir, Imran Khan had said that the President of the most powerful country in the world is best suited to resolve the issue, and he requested Trump to mediate between India and Pakistan. To this Trump responded, “I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago, we talked about this subject, and he actually said, ‘would you like to be a mediator, or arbitrator’, I said where, he said Kashmir”. He added, if I can help, I would love to be a mediator. Although he also said that it is impossible that two incredible countries with very smart leadership can’t solve a problem like this. But if you would want me to mediate or arbitrate, I would be willing to do.


Imran Khan was visibly elated with this reply, who said that Trump will have the prayer of over a billion people if he can mediate on this issue.

It was expected that India will deny this claim by POTUS, and the MEA issues the statement on Twitter within just an hour of the news of the comment became available. The MEA spokesperson said that no such request thas been made by PM Narendra Modi to the US President.

It has been India’s longstanding position that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and no third party intervention is welcome. Pakistan has been trying to bring the issue to the international level, have tried to bring various countries and UN as mediators, but India has been successfully resisting that attempt.

It may be noted that although president Trump claimed about Modi requesting him to mediate on Kashmir, in the official statement issued by White House on Imran Khan’s visit, it was not mentioned. The statement does not even mention Kashmir. Therefore it can be presumed PM Modi has not made any such request with the president, and he may have misunderstood something Modi said during their meeting at the G-20 summit in Japan last month.

News twist in Karnataka drama: Fake resignation letter of HD Kumaraswamy emerges, makes it to assembly

OpIndia Staff
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News twist in Karnataka drama: Fake resignation letter of HD Kumaraswamy emerges, makes it to assembly

Amid the high drama that is going in Karnataka assembly, a fake resignation letter signed by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy added to the many twists and turns of the drama. While the Karnataka assembly resumed the debate on the trust vote in the evening of the third day on Monday, a resignation letter started doing the rounds of social media, especially on WhasApp.

The letter written on CM’s letterhead said that he is tendering his resignation of 22 July 2019. As the letter emerged, several media houses started flashing the breaking news that the Karnataka CM has resigned, showing the letter.

Fake resignation letter of Karnataka CM

After that, the letter was seen in front of HD Kumaraswamy on his desk in the assembly, which captured by cameras of news channels. Therefore, there was no doubt that he is going to resign and he has already printed and signed his resignation letter.


But soon the Chief Minister’s Office said that the letter is fake, and the signature of Kumaraswamy on it is forged. When he was in the assembly taking part in the debate, CMO officials handed him a print out of this ‘resignation letter’, which he had kept in on desk. Media channels assumed this printout of the fake letter as the real one, and jumped the gun by declaring that the Karnataka CM is resigning.


Later CM Kumaraswamy flashed the ‘resignation letter’ in the assembly, saying he has got information that he has tendered his resignation. “I don’t know who is waiting to become CM”, he said. Kumaraswamy said that someone has forged his signature on the letter and circulated it on social media.

After successful launch of Chandrayaan-2, ISRO set to launch missions to the Sun and Venus in the coming years

OpIndia Staff
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After successful launch of Chandrayaan-2, ISRO set to launch missions to the Sun and Venus in the coming years

After the successful launch of Chandrayaan-2, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to launch Aditya-L1, a solar mission, early next year. According to the space agency, the mission aims to explore the corona of the sun.

ISRO’s mission sun intends to study the corona, which comprises the outer layers of the sun. The corona extends into thousands of kilometres.

“How the corona gets heated to such high temperatures is still an unanswered question in solar physics,” read the information on the official website of ISRO about its impending solar mission.

“It is 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth. It will always look at the Sun and give analysis of the corona because it has a major impact on climate change,” K Sivan, Chairperson of ISRO had announced in a news conference last month. He added that ISRO plans to launch the mission in the first half of 2020.

Aditya-L1, with supplementary experiments, can offer observations of the sun’s photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. While the particle payloads are expected to study the particle flux emanating from the sun, the information further read.

These payloads have to be placed outside the interference from the Earth’s magnetic field and cannot be useful in the low earth orbit, the information added.

Aditya-L1 will be launched using the PSLV-XL vehicle from Sriharikota, and it will be placed at the Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is 1.5 million km from the Earth.

Sivan, who is also the secretary of the Department of Space said the space agency plans to launch another interplanetary mission to Venus in the next 2-3 years.

Earlier today, India successfully launched its second moon mission, the Chandrayaan-2. The GSLV-MkIII, carrying the Chandrayaan-2, was launched at 2:43 PM from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota. This launch makes India the fourth country in the world to land on the surface of the moon. Chandrayaan-2 is set to explore the unexplored territory on the southern pole of the moon.

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