MONDAY 26 6.2% MAY, 2025 IS INDIAN ECONOMY’S PROJECCTED GROWTH RATE IN 2025-26 AS PER IMF epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard INDIA’S PER CAPITA INCOME DOUBLED IN 10 YEARS ISRAELI STRIKE CHILDREN AMONG 38 KILLED IN GAZA Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours killed at least 38 people in Gaza, including a mother and her two children sheltering in a tent, officials said on Sunday. PAGE 9 Pak sees India as ‘existential threat’, says US report J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi PAKISTAN continues to view India as an existential threat and is expanding its nuclear arsenal accordingly while In, dia treats China as its primary strategic adversary and views Pakistan as a secondary concern. This assessment comes from the United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in its 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment, which raises fresh concerns over rising tensions and military buildups in South Asia. The report highlights Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to modernise its military capabilities, particularly its nuclear weapons programme, with support from foreign sources — primarily China. Islamabad, it says, is committed to developing battlefield nuclear weapons to offset India’s conventional military superiority . “Pakistan regards India as an existential threat and will continue to pursue its military modernisation effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons,” the DIA stated. Pakistan is also deepening its military relationship with China, which is believed to be the main supplier of defence technologies supporting Pakistan’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programmes. As of 2024, Pakistan is estimated to possess around 170 nuclear warheads. While Islamabad remains focused on India, New Delhi is prioritising its response to China. “India views China as its primary adversary and Pakistan more an ancillary security problem to be managed,” the report says. The DIA warns that despite temporary calm, the risk of future escalation remains high. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI  PAGES 12 India has become the fourth largest economy in the world, overtaking Japan, NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam said, quoting IMF data IMF FORECAST OF APRIL ON RIGHT TRACK The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) report released in April, said that India is expected to be the fourth largest economy in the world with a GDP of $4.19 trillion in 2025, ahead of Japan. Citing IMF data, Subrahmanyam said,” “We are the fourth largest economy as I speak. We are a $4-trillion economy” Not a one-off military action, says Modi MSC Elsa 3, which was on its way from Vizhinjam port to Kochi port, sinking in the Arabian Sea on Sunday morning | EXPRESS Container ship sinks with hazardous cargo off Kochi E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Kochi POSING a major environmental risk to the Kerala coast, MSC Elsa 3, the container ship which was reported to have listed on Saturday, sank to the depths of the Arabian Sea on Sunday morning off Kochi coast. All 24 crew members have been rescued. The ship was carrying 643 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 holding calcium carbide. It also had 84.44 metric tonnes (MT) diesel and 367.1 MT of furnace oil in its tanks. The Coast Guard said a comprehensive pollution response has been activated. A Dornier aircraft equipped with advanced oil spill mapping technology is carrying out an aerial assessment of the area. An emergency meeting of the state Disaster Management WHAT WENT CARGO: 643 containers 100 CONTAINERS HAZARDOUS CARGO: 13 containers DOWN fell off vessel and floating in the sea Location of capsize: 38 nautical miles from Kochi Depth at location: 53 m CALCIUM CARBIDE: 12 containers EMPTY CONTAINERS: 73 FURNACE OIL: 367.1 metric tonnes DIESEL: 84.44 metric tonnes Authority issued an alert for the coastline. Fishermen have been told not to conduct fishing operations in a 20-nautical-mile radius around the spot where the ship sank. Coastal residents have been asked not to approach any floating objects. The Department of Factories and Boilers, Kerala will form two teams to safely recover the containers while the State Pollution Control Board has set up two rapid response teams to deal with potential oil spill. According to authorities, around 100 containers are floating and moving at a speed of 3 km per hour towards the Kerala coast. The remaining containers have sunk to a depth of 53 metres along with the ship. “Presently, no oil spill has been reported. The Coast Guard is fully geared up to respond to the emerging scenario and is closely monitoring the environmental impact,” said defence spokesperson Cdr Atul Pillai. The shipping firm brought technical experts to salvage the containers. However, the efforts failed due to rough sea conditions and strong winds. EXPRESS READ EAM, Maldives foreign minister to review ties EAM S Jaishankar will meet his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Khaleel on Monday to review the implementation of the IndiaMaldives comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership, a key pillar of bilateral ties. Khaleel, who arrived in India on Sunday for a three-day visit, is leading a high-level team. This marks his third trip to India this year, underlining the ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral ties after after a turbulent period. Drive against B’deshi immigrants The Assam Police launched a massive drive to detect illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. There were no official words on the number of people detained but over 150 people were reportedly picked up from Guwahati and its adjoining areas. Police said the documents of the detainees were being examined. Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage kicks off The sacred portals of Hemkund Sahib, a revered Sikh shrine in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, were opened to devotees at 10 am on Sunday, marking the start of the annual pilgrimage season. At least 5,000 devotees, led by the ‘Panj Pyaras’, gathered to witness the moment. ...meanwhile, brings May chill to capital P R A B H AT S H U K L A @ New Delhi 129.3 2002 *(till 25th) 165 2008 144.8 2021 186.4 Rainfall in mm 111 HIGHEST RAINFALL RECORDED IN THE MONTH OF MAY 2023 died after the roof of the ACP office in Ankur Vihar collapsed amid heavy rain and strong winds. Mishra, who served as a reader to the ACP, had been sleeping inside the office when the roof caved in, said ACP Ajay Kumar Singh. The heavy downpour, along with strong winds, severely impacted flight operations at Delhi Airport. As many as 49 flights were diverted between 11.30 pm (Saturday) and 4 am on Sunday, while over 200 cancellations were reported. Heavy rain damaged the newly designed membrane shade at the airport’s Terminal 1, which was installed after a fatal incident last year. The DIAL said that a sudden downpour led to temporary waterlogging in and around the airport. However, it said no structural compromise or impact to other parts of the terminal was reported due to the membrane’s damage. P3 DELHI has recorded its highest-ever May rainfall, logging 186.4 mm of precipitation till May 25 this year, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The previous record of 165 mm set in May 2008 was surpassed after the city received 81.4 mm of rain early Sunday . This year’s total rain far exceeds other notable figures for the month, including 144.8 mm in 2021, 129.3 mm in 2002, and 111 mm in 2023. The deluge is remarkable considering Delhi’s longterm average rainfall for May is just 30.7 mm, highlighting the unusual intensity of this month’s weather events. The capital also witnessed a sharp dip in temperatures on Sunday as heavy rain and thunder, storms lashed the city, accompanied by gusty winds reaching up to 85 kmph. Both maximum and minimum temperatures plummeted by 6–8oC in the past 24 hours, settling at 31.6oC and 19.8oC, respectively marking a significant departure of , 8.6oC and 6.9oC from the normal levels. The sudden weather activity brought relief from scorching heat, with rainfall amounts peaking at 81.4 mm at Safdarjung and notable showers at other stations such as Palam (68.5 mm) and Rajghat (75.5 mm). 2025* A bus & a car wading through waterlogged road in Delhi Cantt on Sunday | PARVEEN NEGI A spell of record-breaking rain and thunderstorms late Saturday night triggered widespread disruption across the national capital. The overnight downpour led to waterlogging, power outages, impacted flight operations and claimed a life in neighbouring Ghaziabad. The PWD said it received around 40 complaints of waterlogging from various parts of the city, including Sarai Kale Khan bus stand, Timarpur main market, Peerag arhi Chowk, New Delhi Railway Station, Greater Kailash-2, ITO, and underpasses at Dhaula Kuan, Palam, Azadpur, Minto Road, and Zakhira. Power supply was hit in large parts of North and North-West Delhi. Discoms reported outages in many areas. Sub-inspector Virendra Mishra of Ghaziabad Police  INDIA IS NOW THE FOURTH LARGEST ECONOMY, AHEAD OF JAPAN: NITI OPERATION SINDOOR Rain breaks record, leaves behind trail of damage and destruction... P R A B H AT S H U K L A @ New Delhi J8.00 India’s nominal GDP for 2025 (FY26) is expected to be $ 4.18 billion, marginally more than the likely GDP of Japan which is estimated at $4.187 billion, the IMF had said in its report on economic outlook BVR Subrahmanyam, NITI Aayog CEO RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi OPERATION Sindoor was a turning point in the global fight against terror showing India’s growing strength and clarity of purpose, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday . “Operation Sindoor is not just a military mission; it is a picture of our resolve, courage and a transforming India and this picture has infused the whole country with a sense of patriotism and has painted it in the hues of the tricolour,” Modi said in his monthly radio broadcast programme Mann Ki Baat. Terming the precision with which Indian forces attacked the terrorist infrastructure across the border as “extraordinary”, B’DESH COURT BEGINS FIRST TRIAL OF HASINA-ERA OFFICIALS the PM emphasised that the operation was not a one-off military action, but a reflection of a changing and resolute India. Crediting India’s homegrown defence capabilities for the mission’s success, he said: “This was the ultimate bravery of our soldiers, backed by the power of weapons, equipment, and technology made in India.” Modi said Operation Sindoor has infused the entire nation with a sense of patriotism with people preferring Made in India goods over imported ones. Notably leaders of the rul, ing National Democratic Alliance (NDA), who had gathered in New Delhi for a meeting of NDA CMs and deputy CMs, for a meeting, listened to the PM’s radio broadcast together. P7 A Crimes Tribunal accepted charges against Dhaka’s former police commissioner and seven others for crimes during last year’s uprising in Bangladesh | P9 ‘Moral values’: Lalu expels son Tej from party R A M A S H A N K A R @ Patna AHEAD of the Bihar assembly election, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Sunday expelled his elder son and MLA Tej Pratap Yadav from the party for six years and snapped all family ties with him for posting pictures on social media, ‘revealing’ his 12-year-old relationship with a woman. Announcing Tej Pratap’s expulsion, Lalu said on X, “Ignoring moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice. The activities, public conduct and irresponsible behaviour of the eldest son are not in conformity with our family values and traditions.” The RJD supremo’s action came a day after a post from Tej Pratap’s Facebook handle went viral. In the post, Tej Pratap is seen with a woman, Anuskha Yadav, in a photograph where he said that he had 12-year-long relationship with her. After the post gained traction, Tej Pratap claimed on ‘X’ that his social media platforms had been hacked.