Kick-start your morning with Swarajya’s Morning Brief – your news fix, curated for clarity and insight.
Jamaat’s Return Revives Pakistan’s Shadow Over Bangladesh Politics
The recent order by Bangladesh’s Supreme Court restoring Jamaat-e-Islami’s political registration signals a resurgence of Pakistan-aligned forces in Bangladesh, the Economic Times has reported. Jamaat, known for backing the Pakistan Army during the 1971 Liberation War and its involvement in war crimes, had long been sidelined post-independence but now re-emerges amid shifting political tides.
The timing is no coincidence. It coincides with the interim government’s charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ban on her party — the same leader who had cracked down on Jamaat and held it accountable for crimes against humanity during 1971.
Historically allied with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat’s return raises concerns about the revival of old networks that once enabled Pakistan-backed insurgencies and destabilising activities in India’s Northeast.
Indigenous Artillery Ammo Nears Final Trials
India is on the verge of completing the development of indigenous 155 mm artillery ammunition, with final user trials scheduled for November. Developed in collaboration with private and public sector partners, four variants, including high explosive, smoke, and dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM) rounds (designed to burst into submunitions at a specific altitude) have already undergone testing.
The project involves Jai Ammunition Limited (Reliance Infrastructure) and Yantra India Limited. These firms have worked with DRDO over two years to create prototypes and prepare for large-scale production. The Army is actively involved in the process, and if the ammunition passes final trials, mass orders are expected. India’s projected demand for such ammunition is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore over the next decade.
Factory Activity Hits Three Month Low In May
India’s manufacturing activity eased to a three-month low in May, with inflation and tensions with Pakistan weighing on output and new orders, according to the HSBC Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The index fell to 57.6 from 58.2 in April, though it remained well above the long-run average.
Despite the slowdown, export demand was the strongest in three years, driving job creation to a record high. Input costs rose sharply due to pricier materials like aluminium and cement, as well as higher freight and labour charges. Strong demand allowed companies to pass on some of the cost burden through higher selling prices.
Other Developments
Second Phase of Ram Temple Consecration Begins Today
The second phase of the consecration ceremony at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple is set to begin on Tuesday (3 June) and will conclude on 5 June, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Ganga Dussehra. The celebrations were kicked off on Monday (2 June) with a grand Kalash Yatra procession from the banks of the Saryu River.
Security around the temple complex has been significantly heightened, with the deployment of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) commandos ans armoured vehicles. The upcoming rituals include the consecration of idols on the temple’s first floor and six other temples within the complex. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to participate in several key events during the ceremony.
Tata Looks to Acquire Malaysian Semiconductor Facility
Tata Electronics is in talks with semiconductor firms like X-Fab, DNeX, and Globetronics to acquire a fabrication or outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) facility in Malaysia. The move aims to strengthen Tata’s capabilities ahead of its entry into India’s semiconductor assembly and packaging sector.
The acquisition would provide Tata with operational know-how and access to Malaysia’s mature ecosystem and skilled workforce. Tata is already investing ₹91,000 crore in a Gujarat fab and Rs 27,000 crore in an OSAT plant in Assam. This step would also help reduce tariff risks and build a more resilient global supply chain.
Krutrim Struggles To Gain Traction
Krutrim, the AI arm of the Ola group and India’s first AI unicorn, has struggled to gain traction for its large language models (LLMs) and cloud services. Founders and developers attribute the tepid response to poor product documentation, lack of technical maturity, and limited transparency compared to global competitors like Google Cloud.
Startups have reportedly shifted away from Krutrim to these hyper-scalers despite similar pricing. Additionally, leadership churn since 2024—resulting in the exit of more than 20 employees across key executive roles—has affected user confidence.
Trump ‘Likely’ To Speak To Xi This Week Amid Tensions
US President Donald Trump is expected to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, the White House said on Monday, as tensions flare over a recent trade agreement. The prospect of talks follows Beijing’s sharp rebuttal to Trump’s accusation that China violated a temporary deal reached in Geneva last month.
China’s Commerce Ministry called the claims “groundless” and criticised new US export curbs and visa revocations targeting Chinese nationals. Trump had touted the deal as stabilising the situation, but later claimed China had “totally violated” the terms. US officials say the row centres on Beijing withholding critical minerals, a key part of the May agreement.
From The States
Gujarat Plans Op Sindoor Memorial Near Pakistan Border
Gujarat is developing a memorial park named Sindoor Van in Kutch to honour the armed forces for dealing a crushing blow to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The high-density forest park will come up on eight hectares of forest land and is expected to be completed in about 18 months.
The memorial will feature over 80,000 plants, including Sindoor trees. The site is historically significant, as it hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first Gujarat visit after Operation Sindoor, where he was gifted a Sindoor plant by women who had helped rebuild the Bhuj airbase during the 1971 war.
SC Declines Plea Against Assam Deportation Policy
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a plea against Assam’s drive to deport suspected illegal migrants, asking the petitioner to first approach the Gauhati High Court. A vacation bench of justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma refused to intervene, and the plea was withdrawn.
Filed by the All BTC Minority Students Association, the petition alleged that genuine citizens were being deported without due process. The petitioner claimed around 70 individuals were being pushed to the Bangladesh border. In a related case in February, the court had ordered the deportation of 63 foreigners whose Bangladeshi nationality was confirmed.
Kashmir Rail Line Completion Set for 6 June
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the final rail stretch linking Kashmir with the rest of India on 6 June, marking the completion of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Line. The last 63-km section between Katra and Sangaldan, which includes the iconic Chenab Bridge, was completed in January but its inauguration was delayed due to weather, the Pahalgam terror attack, and India-Pakistan tensions.
The Prime Minister will flag off two specially designed Vande Bharat trains running between Srinagar and Katra, although he will not travel to Srinagar for the event. The Vande Bharat trains will currently run only between Katra and Srinagar, requiring passengers to change trains at Katra for onward journeys
You’re all caught up—until next time.