Category: India News

Categories
India News Tech Lite

‘Card Data of 10 Crore Indians’ on Dark Web’

Independent cyber security researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia claimed that the data was being sold on the Dark Web for an undisclosed amount via cryptocurrency Bitcoin….reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

Independent cyber security researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia claimed on Sunday that data of nearly 10 crore credit and debit card holders in the country is being sold for an undisclosed amount on the Dark Web.

According to Rajaharia, the massive data dump on the Dark Web has been leaked from a compromised server of Bengaluru-based digital payments gateway Juspay.

JusPay told IANS that no card numbers or financial information were compromised during the cyber-attack and the actual number is much lower than the 10 crore-figure being reported.

“On August 18, 2020, an unauthorised attempt on our servers was detected and terminated when in progress. No card numbers, financial credentials or transaction data were compromised,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.

“Some data records containing non-anonymised, plain-text email and phone numbers were compromised, which form a fraction of the 10 crore data records,” the spokesperson added.

However, Rajaharia claimed that the data was being sold on the Dark Web for an undisclosed amount via cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

“For this data, hackers are also contacting via Telegram,” he told IANS.

According to him, PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) have been followed by Juspay in storing users’ card information.



“However, if the hackers can find out the Hash algorithm used to generate the card fingerprint, they will be able to decrypt the masked card number. In this condition, all 10 crore cardholders are at risk,” Rajaharia noted.

The company admitted that the hacker gained access to one of Juspay’s developer keys and was spawning new computation servers in the developer account, trying to gain access to any accessible data.

Juspay, however, said the masked card numbers that have been leaked are not considered sensitive as per compliance.

Only “few” phone numbers and email addresses have been leaked which have dummy values, the spokesperson said, adding that it had intimated its merchant partners about the data leak the very same day.

“No card numbers (like 16-digit card number and other financial credentials) were accessed, as it is stored in a completely different isolated system. No transaction or order information was compromised,” the company spokesperson informed.

“We are making long-term investments for strengthening security and data governance with industry experts,” the company said.

Founded in 2012, Juspay last year raised $21.6 million in its Series B funding round.

The round was led by Sweden’s Vostok Emerging Finance (VEF), which invested $13 million in the technology firm, marking its first investment in the country.

Also read:Prachanda due in India

Categories
Business Economy India News

Reliance Seeks Govt Intervention to Stop Vandalism

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), through its subsidiary Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), in a petition mentioned to be filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday, has sought the urgent intervention of Government authorities to bring a complete stop to the illegal acts of vandalism by miscreants.

These acts of violence have endangered the lives of thousands of its employees and caused damage and disruption to the vital communications infrastructure, sales and service outlets run by its subsidiaries in the two states, RIL said.

“The miscreants indulging in vandalism have been instigated and aided by vested interests and our business rivals. Taking advantage of the ongoing farmers’ agitation near the national capital, these vested interests have launched an incessant, malicious and motivated vilification campaign against Reliance, which has absolutely no basis in truth,” the statement said.

“The falsehood of the campaign becomes crystal clear from the following irrefutable facts, which we have placed before the High Court. These facts establish that Reliance has nothing whatsoever to do with the three farm laws currently debated in the country, and in no way benefits from them. As such, the sole nefarious purpose of linking the name of Reliance to these laws is to harm our businesses and damage our reputation,” it added.

“Reliance Retail Limited (RRL), Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), or any other affiliate of our parent company, i.e., Reliance Industries Limited have not done any ‘corporate’ or ‘contract’ farming in the past, and have absolutely no plans to enter this business,” RIL said.

“Neither Reliance nor any of our subsidiaries has purchased any agricultural land, directly or indirectly, in Punjab/Haryana or anywhere else in India, for the purpose of ‘corporate’ or ‘contract’ farming. We have absolutely no plans to do so”, it added.

As per the statement, Reliance Retail is an unmatched leader in organised retail business in India. It retails products of all categories including food grains and staples, fruits and vegetables, items of daily use, apparel, medicines, electronic products of various brands belonging to independent manufacturers and suppliers in the country. It does not purchase any food grains directly from farmers. It has never entered into long-term procurement contracts to gain unfair advantage over farmers or sought that its suppliers buy from farmers at less than remunerative prices, nor will it ever do so, RIL said.

“We at Reliance have immense gratitude and the greatest respect for India’s ‘kisans’, who are the ‘ANNA DATA’ of 1.3 billion Indians. Reliance and its affiliates are committed to doing everything to enrich and empower them. As customers of their services, we believe in building a strong and equal partnership with Indian farmers on the basis of shared prosperity, inclusive development and an equitable New India”, RIL added.

Therefore, Reliance and its affiliates fully share and support the aspiration of Indian farmers to get a fair and profitable price on a predictable basis for what they produce with exemplary hard work, innovation and dedication. Reliance seeks significant augmentation of their incomes on a sustainable basis, and pledges to work towards this goal.

“Indeed, we shall insist on our suppliers to strictly abide by the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism, and/or any other mechanism for remunerative price for farm produce, as may be determined and implemented by the government,” RIL said.

Far from hurting the interests of Indian farmers, the businesses of Reliance have actually benefited them and the Indian public at large. It said Reliance Retail has built India’s largest organized retail business by investing in economies of scale and creating world-class technology-enabled supply chains, which has brought significant gains to both Indian farmers and consumers.

Jio’s fully 4G network has provided world-class data connectivity to every single village in India at the most affordable rates anywhere in the world, thus bringing the benefits of the Digital Revolution to crores of Indian farmers. In just four short years, Jio has become India’s largest digital service provider, with 40 crore loyal customers.

As of October 31, 2020, Jio has more than 140 lakh subscribers in Punjab (approximately 36 per cent subscribers in the state) and 94 lakh in Haryana (approximately 34 per cent subscribers in the state). “Unlike the vested interests, Jio has not resorted to any coercive or unlawful measures to win over customers”, RIL statement said.

Also Read-World’s Largest Vaxx Drive Set to Begin in India

Read More-‘Nations against UN Rohingya resolution could play better role’

Categories
Asia News Bangladesh India News

‘Nations against UN Rohingya resolution could play better role’

On December 31, 2020, the UNGA plenary adopted the resolution by a recorded vote of 130 in favour to nine against, with 25 abstentions…reports Sumi Khan

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said that the countries, including Russia and China, which voted against a resolution recently adopted by the 75th UN General Assembly (UNGA) on the human rights situation of the Rohingya refugees, “could play a better role”.

On December 31, 2020, the UNGA plenary adopted the resolution by a recorded vote of 130 in favour to nine against, with 25 abstentions.

Besides China and Russia, the other countries that voted against the resolution are Belarus, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

“Those countries could play a better role which voted against the resolution. We don’t have any displeasure against them,” Momen told reporters at his office on Sunday.

“It’s a strategic decision. We’re happy with the results,” he added.

“We’re happy that they talked to us before the decision,” the Foreign Minister said explaining why the countries wanted to remain neutral in the UN to use their leverage on Myanmar in finding a solution to the Rohingya crisis.

China is trying to work with Myanmar and Bangladesh to find a solution through tripartite discussions.

Momen said the Rohingya issue remains a big challenge and expressed his optimism over resumption of the repatriation process in this year, adding: “It’s our expectation.”

The Foreign Minister said he wrote to his counterpart at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myanmar on January 1 touching upon overall issues.

“I’ve conveyed to my counterpart in Myanmar that we want the process to start. You repeatedly told us that you will take them back after verification and provide safety and security. It’s our demand that you will provide it what you promised,” he said, adding that creating a conducive environment for voluntary repatriation has to be in place as promised.

He said Myanmar is a friendly country and Bangladesh is trying to solve the Rohingya issue through discussion with the former bilaterally, apart from exploring other ways.

Responding to a question, the Foreign Minister said China is trying to discuss the issue through a trilateral mechanism with Myanmar and Bangladesh.

“We’re ready. We’ll sit once a date is fixed for the next round of discussions.”

He said Bangladesh also requested Japan as they have leverage on Myanmar.

“Japan assured us of extending their help. We’re yet to take a decision on how the framework will be designed.”

Bangladesh thinks the Rohingya will “jeopardise regional and international security” if the 1.1 million refugees were left unattended and not given an opportunity to return to their homeland.

“Development is not possible without peace,” he said.

Two repatriation attempts turned futile as Myanmar “failed to remove trust deficit” among the Rohingya and there was “lack of conducive environment” in Rakhine state for their return.

Bangladesh and Myanmar signed the repatriation deal on November 23, 2017.

Refugees in the Kutupalong Rohingya Refugee Camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in July, 2018. (Photo: UN/IANS)

On January 16, 2018, the two countries signed a document on “Physical Arrangement”, which was supposed to facilitate the return of the Rohingya to their homeland.

More than three years ago, the Myanmar army “targeted, killed, and raped” the Rohingya and burned their villages, with the UN saying it was an “ethnic genocide”.

Over 800,000 Rohingya fled the “genocidal violence” and Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million refuees.

Bangladesh is trying in multiple ways, bilaterally, multilaterally, trilateral and through the judicial system, to find a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis.

It has proposed deployment of non-military civilian observers from Myanmar’s allies, including Japan, China, Russia, India and the ASEAN member states.

Myanmar however, is yet to respond to the proposal.

Meanwhile, the problem of Rohingya Muslim refugees is a big one and unless they return to Myanmar, the problem will remain for India and other countries, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Maj Gen Shafeenul Islam said here on Friday after the five-day meeting with his Border Security Force (BSF) counterpart Rakesh Asthana.

Islam said that Rohingya Muslims are not only found in India, they are found across the world including countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

“The Rohingya Muslim refugee problem would be solved when they would go back to their country, Myanmar, at the earliest otherwise the problem would remain for India and other countries,” the BGB DG said.

He said: “We are regularly nabbing the Rohingyas at the border, escaping from the Cox’s Bazar camps. There are Rohingya settlements as well. They also have UNHCR cards. They always try to get inside… To meet their relatives in the Bangladesh camps.”

Asthana said that Rohingya Muslims are being occasionally caught in different parts of the country by the state security forces.

“Both BSF and BGB are committed to stop their infiltration and exfiltration and we are taking action not only against the Rohingyas, but also against all illegal trespassers,” the BSF head said.

A senior BSF officer said that in the all important five-day Border Coordination Conference (BCC), BSF chief Asthana led the 12-member delegation while the 11-member BGB team was headed by Islam. The DG level meeting or the BCC between the BSF and BGB was held first time outside the national capital.

Rohingyas from refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh often enter into the northeastern states of India illegally in search of jobs or get trapped in human trafficking.

According to the security officials, at least 35 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, including women and children, have been detained in the past one month for illegally entering into northeast India.

Over 7,38,000 Rohingyas from Rakhine in western Myanmar have taken shelter in the camps in Cox’s Bazar since the beginning of the ethinic troubles on August 25, 2017, following a wave of violence and persecution, which has been described by the United Nations as attempted ethnic cleansing.

Four northeastern states – Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km), Nagaland (215 km) and Mizoram (510 km) – share 1,643 km unfenced borders with Myanmar while Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam (263 km) share 1,880 km borders with Bangladesh.

Also Read-UK logs another 54,990 Covid cases, 454 deaths

Categories
Australia Cricket India News Sport

‘Follow Rules Or Don’t Come’: Queensland Govt To Indian Team

Indian coach Ravi Shastri

With reports emerging about Team India’s reluctance to play the fourth and final Test of the ongoing series against Australia in Brisbane due to harsher bio-security protocols, members of the Queensland government have stated that the visiting team should not enter the state if they are unwilling to coordinate with the protocols that have been laid out.

Reports have emerged that the Indian team isn’t keen on travelling to Brisbane if the players are forced to undergo quarantine.

However, members of the Queensland government have stated that not abiding by the rules is not an option for the visitors. “If the Indians don’t want to play by the rules, don’t come,” Queensland’s Health Shadow Minister Ros Bates was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.

Tim Mander, Queensland’s Shadow Sports Minister, said there’s no room for ignoring the protocols and that every individual would have to go through the same drill.

“If the Indian cricket team wants to spit the dummy and disregard quarantine guidelines in Brisbane for the fourth Test, then they shouldn’t come. The same rules must apply for everyone. Simple,” Mander said.

Australia batsman Matthew Wade has also said that the hosts are looking forward to the Gabba Test and willing to make sacrifices to follow the schedule.

“We’d love to be running outside in Australia like everybody is doing right now…but we understand that we need to make some sacrifices to get this tour done,” Wade told the media before adding none of the players are aware of any threat of India pulling out.

Asked if he would like to play back-to-back Tests in Sydney due to harsher quarantine in Brisbane, Wade said, “No. Obviously we would prefer not to. The schedule has been rolled out, we stick to that. There was speculation about staying in Melbourne. Cricket Australia was firm that we will stick to the schedule that we rolled out at the start of the summer.”

“So I expect us to go to Gabba regardless of the fact that it is a quarantine-based hotel and we only go to the ground, play and come back to hotel. We fully expect to go to Brisbane to play the Gabba Test,” he added.

The left-handed batsman further said that there is going to be no uncertainty from Australia’s side.

“(There’s) No uncertainty from our side…we understand that us as a group we will go to SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) and then we’ll go to Brisbane and play at the Gabba until powers that be knock on our doors and tell us that it is going to change. We will roll into the next game expecting if that’s what is going to be. It is out of our control,” Wade said before adding that they have already been told about stricter protocols in Brisbane to which they are willing to adhere.

“Brisbane will be a harder quarantine and bio-security bubble than what we have had here, that is for sure. That has been relayed to us. No one knows the finer details of it yet. But yes, it would be strict protocol than here.”

The ongoing four-match series is currently tied at 1-1 with Australia winning the first Test in Adelaide while India registering a win in the second in Melbourne. The third Test of the series will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from Thursday.

Also Read: One Of The Biggest Comebacks In Test History: Ravi Shastri

Categories
India News Sport

India Women Leaves For Argentina Tour

Indian hockey players pose for a photo as they leave for the Argentina Tourt

The India women’s hockey team on Sunday left for Argentina where they are scheduled to play eight matches between January 17 to 31.

The Indian team is scheduled to play two matches against Argentina (Junior Women) on January 17 and 19, two matches against Argentina B on January 22 and 24 and four matches against Argentina on January 26, 28, 30 and 31.

This tour will be the national side’s first tour after almost a year. India’s last international assignment was a tour of New Zealand in January 2020. India faced New Zealand and Great Britain in the five-match series and were victorious in three games that they played during the tour.

“It feels amazing to be touring again. We have worked very hard on our game in the last few months and the time has come for us to execute our skills in an international match. Playing in international matches is going to be a bit different this time, since we will be in a bio bubble, however, the team is excited to be back on the field in the best possible manner at the moment,” said Rani who will be leading the side.

Indian hockey players pose for a photo as they leave for the Argentina Tourt


Hockey India on Sunday named the 25-member squad for the tour. The team, which has goalkeeper Savita serving as the vice captain, consists of goalkeepers Rajani Etimarpu and Bichu Devi Kharibam, Defenders Gurjit Kaur, Deep Grace Ekka, Rashmita Minz, Manpreet Kaur, Reena Khokhar, Salima Tete and Nisha, Midfielders Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lilima Minz, Neha Goyal, Namita Toppo, Monika and Nikki Pradhan and Forwards Vandana Katariya, Navneet Kaur, Navjot Kaur, Jyoti, Udita, Rajwinder Kaur, Lalremsiami and Sharmila Devi.

“We desperately needed to get back into competitive mode as there’s not much time left to go for the Olympics. We have been doing well in practice sessions, but an international match is always the real test for any sportsperson. Therefore, we would like to thank Hockey India and SAI for the efforts they have put in to arrange a tour for us. We are really looking forward to a great tour and hopefully, we start playing to our full potential right from the first match,” said Savita.

Hockey India and the host national association have created a bio bubble in Argentina for both the Argentine women’s team and the Indian women’s team, informed Hockey India.

Categories
COVID-19 India News

Bharat Biotech All Set To Flag Off Phase III Trials

Bharat Biotech on Saturday announced successful recruitment of 23,000 volunteers, and continued progress towards achieving the goal of 26,000 participants for phase-III clinical trial of its coronavirus vaccine ‘Covaxin’ across multiple sites in India.

The phase-III human clinical trials of Covaxin began mid-November, targeting 26,000 volunteers across India. This is India’s first and only phase III efficacy study for a Covid-19 vaccine, and the largest phase III efficacy trial ever conducted for any vaccine in India, the Hyderabad-based company said.

“We thank every volunteer who has taken the time to participate in this trial. Their volunteering spirit is a great morale boost for India and the world. We thank all the principle investigators, doctors, medical staff and the hospitals for their cooperation and support in taking the phase III trials forward in 26,000 volunteers in India. We continue our progress towards achieving the goal of 26,000 participants for Phase-3 clinical trials of Covaxin,” said Suchitra Ella, Joint Managing Director, Bharat Biotech.

Covaxin has been evaluated in approximately 1,000 subjects in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, with promising safety and immunogenicity results, with acceptance in international peer reviewed scientific journals.

The product development and clinical trial data thus far has generated five publications, of which four have been accepted by international peer reviewed journals and will be published soon.

“The publication of phase II trial data is undergoing the peer review process. As a part of our regulatory guidelines, all data has been submitted to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO).”

Covaxin is a highly purified and inactivated 2-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, manufactured in a Vero cell manufacturing platform with an excellent safety track record of more than 300 million doses.

India’s first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV). This indigenous, inactivated vaccine is developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech’s BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) bio-containment facility, a one-of-its-kind facility in the world.

Also Read-‘UK hospitals must prepare for Covid surge’

Categories
-Top News India News UK News

India Clarifies on UK Flight Resumption

Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

Flight services between India and UK will resume from January 6, while those from UK to India will recommence from January 8, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Saturday.

Last month, these services were suspended to stop the spread of a mutant Covid-19 strain which was recently discovered in the UK.

In a tweet, the minister said: “India to UK from 6 Jan 2021. UK to India from 8 Jan 2021. 30 flights will operate every week. 15 each by Indian & UK carriers.”

“This schedule is valid till 23 Jan 2021. Further frequency will be determined after review.”

In another tweet, he said: “All health precautions will be taken. SOPs have been issued by @MoHFW_INDIA. Passengers will be tested both before boarding & upon arrival in India. Details are attached herewith. These are valid till 30 Jan 2021.”

Several countries, including India, had suspended flight services to the UK in the wake of the new mutant Covid-19 strain.

Also Read – India Joins UN Security Council

The suspension commenced with effect from 11.59 p.m. on December 22.

The initial decision was to suspend flights till December 31. However, in the wake of increasing cases of the new strain, it was decided to extend the temporary suspension of flights to and from the UK till January 7.

Air India.

Prior to the suspension, over 60 flights per week were being operated between UK and India.

Airlines such as Vistara, Air India, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways operate flights between the two countries.

Categories
-Top News Cricket India News Lite Blogs

Ganguly Hospitalised After Chest Pain

Sourav Ganguly
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly.jpg

Sourav Ganguly, the president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was admitted to hospital in Kolkata on Saturday after he suffered a blackout at his home and complained of chest pain.

The 48-year-old former India captain complained of dizziness and then suffered the blackout just after he had returned from gym.

He was immediately rushed to city’s Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital.

It has been learnt that Saroj Mondal, a doctor at the city’s SSKM hospital, has also reached the Woodlands Hospital to attend to Ganguly.

Categories
-Top News India News UK News

India-UK flights to resume operations from Jan 8

Air India.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

Flight services between India and UK will resume from January 8, 2020, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday.

Last month, these services were suspended to stop the spread of a mutant Covid-19 starin which was recently discovered in the UK.

In a tweet, the minister said: “It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021.”

Also Read – India Joins UN Security Council

“Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only.
@DGCAIndia will issue the details shortly.”

Several countries including India had suspended flight services to the UK in the wake of the new mutant Covid-19 strain.

Categories
-Top News India News World

India Joins UN Security Council

India was elected for the eighth time to the Council polling 184 votes of the 192 votes cast for the non-permanent seat to represent Asia…reports Arul Louis

India became a non-permanent member of the Security Council on Friday taking a seat at the UN’s highest decision-making body at a time of changing reality even as it presses ahead with its quest for a permanent seat.

As a member, India will be able to push its agenda of promoting the ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — the world is one family — while being the leading voice on combating terrorism, and also confronting China’s attempts to bring up Kashmir.

During the crucial phase of the world emerging from the trauma and chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic to face change realities, New Delhi can help shape the new order.

With T.S. Tirumurti as the permanent representative, India will formally take its seat on Monday morning when the Council meets for its first meeting of the year in a closed session presided over by Tunisia’s Permanent Representative Tarek Ladeb, the president for the month of January.

India’s flag will go up in front of the Council chamber at a televised ceremony at noon local time (10.30 p.m. in India) proclaiming its membership.

India was elected for the eighth time to the Council polling 184 votes of the 192 votes cast for the non-permanent seat to represent Asia.

T.S. Tirumurti, India’s Permanent Representative at UN

Indonesia retired at the end of 2020, leaving India to succeed it on the Council. Vietnam is the other Asian country holding a non-permanent seat on the 15-member Council.

As historically the biggest contributor of troops to UN peace-keeping, India will have an input into determining how the operations are mandated. India has complained that the process driven by the permanent members does not adequately consult with the troop-contributors or take their experiences into account.

India has warned about the Council’s mission-creep a” taking on issues like climate change for which it does not have a mandate under the UN Charter. Now, India can voice its reservations in the Council.

During the past two years, China has tried to bring up the Kashmir issue in the Council as a favour to its client Pakistan. Because of the opposition of the other members, Beijing has not been able to hold an open session and has had to settle for informal consultations without any statement or record.

If Beijing tries again to bring up Kashmir, India will be able to directly deal with the attempts and should informal sessions be held, it can answer right there.

A view of the United Nations Security Council in November 2012 with India’s then-Permanent Representative Hardeep Puri at the centre when India was last a non-permanent member of the Council. (Photo: UN/IANS)

Being on the Council will mean taking positions and setting out its stand almost daily on global issues, sometimes in real-time.

The Indian mission has been reinforced with at least four more diplomats to take care of the increased workload.

The hot spots confronting the Council right now are Yemen, Syria, North Korea, Ethiopia, Iran, Myanmar, Afghanistan and the Central African Republic. When it was out of the Council, India did not have to take a stand, for example, on issues like the Ethiopian crisis or expound it to the world, but it will now have to react.

There are also confrontations involving permanent members a” Russia with Ukraine, and China with India and several Indo-Pacific countries.

At the Council, India will find its emerging foreign policy outlook of assertive independence with primacy to its perceived interests tested as its diplomacy is stretched while balancing its strategic interests amid competing pulls.

For instance in Yemen, where there has been a fresh round of violence this week, India will have to deal with the seepage of Middle Eastern rivalries into the conflict with Saudi Arabia as a key player of interest to India.

In Syria, there is the line up of Russia versus the western nations and that is the case also with Moscow’s dispute with Kyiv.

The degree of polarisation at the Council is likely to lessen on one front with the change in the United States presidency and India will not face the same degree on pressures on issues like Iran and Venezuela.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan with Chinese Preisident Xi Jinping

The distinctive division in the Council is between the western countries and Russia, with China being on the side of Russia most of the time, although often not as assertively.

While India has drifted closer to Western European positions on some issues like Israel, on others like Syria, it is closer to Russia’s.

And on the Rohingya refugee crisis, New Delhi’s stance is closer to Beijing’s, rather than the West’s.

India first served on the Council in 1950 and 16 years elapsed before its next turn in 1967. Since then, it has been been on the Council six more times with increasing frequency, the last one in 2011.