Morning Brief: India’s First Private Sector Plant For Military Aircraft To Be Inaugurated Today; BTech Seats Reach Eight-Year High After A Decade Of Decline; And More

Dear reader, make sense of the day’s news with Swarajya's roundup of what’s making headlines this morning. 

India’s First Private Sector Plant For Military Aircraft Opens Today

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived in Vadodara on Monday to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of the Final Assembly Line for the C295 medium-lift tactical transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. This Vadodara facility marks India’s first private military transport aircraft production plant, a collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus Defence and Space (Airbus DS).

India will receive 56 C295 aircraft to replace the IAF’s aging Avro fleet. Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft from its facility in Seville, Spain, while the remaining 40 will be manufactured by TASL in Vadodara. Known for operating on short or unprepared runways, the C295 can transport up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers and is ideal for tactical missions. The Vadodara plant is expected to roll out its first Made-in-India C295 aircraft in 2026, with the 56th aircraft to be delivered by 2031.

BTech Seats Reach 8-Year High After Decade Of Decline

After years of decline due to a slump in demand and government-imposed restrictions, the number of BTech seats across India has reached an eight-year high. For the academic year 2024-25, the approved intake for undergraduate engineering and technology programs stands at 14.90 lakh seats, marking an 18.84 per cent increase from the 12.54 lakh seats in 2021-22, which was the lowest in a decade.

The uptick follows a steady drop from 17.05 lakh seats in 2014-15, with the first rise occurring in 2022-23 and continuing with a 5 per cent increase in 2023-24. In 2024-25, intake surged by 10 per cent, adding 1.4 lakh seats from 13.5 lakh in 2023-24. Despite the growth, the current intake remains below the numbers from the first three years of decline: 17.05 lakh in 2014-15, 16.30 lakh in 2015-16, and 15.56 lakh in 2016-17.

Other Developments

India-China Troop Disengagement Moves Forward In Ladakh

The disengagement process between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh is progressing as planned, with most temporary structures at key border flashpoints dismantled and patrols expected to resume soon. In the Depsang area, Chinese posts that had blocked Indian access to five patrolling points on the Line of Actual Control, including at the critical Y Junction, have been removed.

Similarly, Chinese structures on disputed land at Demchock have been dismantled, easing one of the last major issues in Ladakh since earlier disengagements in Galwan, Gogra-Hot Springs, and the Finger Area. Sources indicate patrolling will resume after October 28-29, with both sides agreeing to notify each other to prevent confrontations. Tensions at hotspots in Arunachal Pradesh, including Yangste, are also being addressed.

Adani To Build First Cement Factory From Scratch

The Adani Group is in advanced talks with the Odisha government to establish its first greenfield cement factory, marking a shift from its recent strategy focused on acquisitions. Ambuja Cements Ltd, part of the Adani Group, is expected to develop the 4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) unit, estimated to cost between Rs 3,000-3,500 crore, according to sources, including a government official.

This project is part of Adani’s broader strategy to expand its cement operations from acquisitions to building new facilities from the ground up. As it aims to become India’s largest cement producer, Adani also recently announced plans for a clinker grinding unit in Bihar with an investment of Rs 1,600-2,000 crore.

Rs 4,000-Crore PLI Scheme For Specialty Steel Likely Next Month

A government panel is set to approve a Rs 4,000-crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme next month aimed at enhancing domestic production of specialty steel and reducing imports. This approval will initiate the second phase of the PLI scheme for value-added steel, which had previously faced delays and saw limited participation from domestic firms in the initial round launched in 2021.

The revival of the scheme comes as India seeks to capitalize on strong demand and stable prices, aiming to elevate its position in the global steel value chain. Specialty steel, which undergoes processes like coating, plating, or heat treatment, is critical for various strategic sectors, including defense, space, power, and automobiles.

Armenia, US, France Drive Growth In India’s Defence Exports

With India ramping up its weapons exports, Armenia has become its largest customer for complete systems such as Akash air defence missiles, Pinaka rocket launchers, and 155mm artillery guns. In 2023-24, India recorded defence exports totaling Rs 21,083 crore ($2.6 billion), with the US, France, and Armenia emerging as the top buyers.

Indian defence firms, both public and private, are supplying a wide range of arms, ammunition, and complete systems to nearly 100 countries, including BrahMos missiles, Dornier-228 aircraft, radars, and armored vehicles. Exports to the US consist of sub-systems sourced by companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin as part of their global supply chains, while France imports software and electronic equipment.

Kindergarten Closures Surge in China Amid Falling Birth Rates

Thousands of kindergartens across China have shuttered due to a sharp drop in enrollment, reflecting a sharp decline in birth rates. The Chinese Ministry of Education reported a decrease of 14,808 kindergartens in 2023, bringing the total to 274,400, marking the second consecutive year of decline.

Kindergarten enrollment fell for the third straight year, down by 11.55 percent, or 5.35 million children, to 40.9 million. Primary schools also saw a decline, with 5,645 fewer schools, resulting in a 3.8 percent decrease in 2023.

From The States

Vijay Sets Tone For His Politics At First Rally

At his inaugural political rally, Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay levelled criticism at both the BJP-led government at the Centre and the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, carefully refraining from directly naming either party. Addressing a crowd of over 3 lakh in Vikravandi, Vijay declared that his party, Tamiliga Vettri Kazhagam, would uphold the ideals of Periyar, while eschewing any “anti-God stance.” He stressed that his party’s vision is “pucca practical". In this first foray, Vijay presented himself not merely as a film star but as a leader offering a distinct alternative to Tamil Nadu’s established political order.

Nine Seats Could Decide Jharkhand Election

With the Jharkhand Assembly elections approaching next month, nine key seats where the victory margin was under 5,000 votes in 2019 could significantly impact both the NDA and INDIA alliances. The halfway mark in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly is only 41 seats, and no party has achieved an outright majority in the state's history, making these constituencies critical. In 2019, the BJP won five of these seats, while the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress each secured two. However, in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and its ally, the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), led in eight of these segments, with the Congress winning in one.

Gangster Shahabuddin's Wife Returns To RJD

Hena Shahab, the widow of former Siwan MP and gangster Mohammed Shahabuddin, rejoined the RJD on Sunday after a three-year absence, accompanied by her son, Osama Shahab. RJD national president Lalu Prasad welcomed them, highlighting that the late Shahabuddin was a “founder member of the RJD” and that his family has always been part of the party. After her husband's death in 2021, Hena left the RJD and contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate from Siwan, finishing as the first runner-up ahead of the RJD candidate Awadh Bihari Choudhary. Her candidacy split the vote, allowing JD(U)’s Vijay Lakshmi Kushwaha to win the seat by over 90,000 votes.

Stay tuned for more insights throughout the day.