Month: March 2022

Myanmar on Sunday marked the 77th Armed Forces Day with a military parade in the capital city of Nay Pyi Taw.

The Myanmar military seized power in February 2021 after accusing civilian leaders of rigging the general election. The military’s actions spurred major civil unrest that led to over 1,600 casualties.

Delivered a public speech on Sunday, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing highlighted the Myanmar Armed Forces’ commitment to independence, safeguarding three main national causes, and peace and development, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Hlaing said the Myanmar Armed Forces would continue the negotiation process with the signatory organizations in the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.

The armed forces’ mechanized units and foot soldiers marched in the parade ground. Meanwhile, military aircrafts and helicopters flew above.

On Friday, the UK Government had sanctioned two individuals and three companies responsible for supplying the Myanmar military regime with weapons and equipment.

The British Foreign Office said the country has also designated the new Head of Air Force who was recently appointed to the State Administration Council.

The press statement said new sanctions, freezing assets and banning travel to the UK, will be brought against Dr Aung Moe Myint, Aung Hlaing Oo and General Htun Aung.

The United States had also imposed new sanctions on five individuals and five entities connected to Myanmar’s military regime.

“Today the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated five individuals and five entities connected to Burma’s military regime pursuant to Executive Order (E.O) 14014,” the US Department of Treasury said in a statement on Friday.

Among the entities is the 66th Light Infantry Division (LID), the statement said. (ANI)

Amid the ongoing visit of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar to the Maldives, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) and the Maldives Police Force on Sunday to support the up-gradation of police infrastructure across the archipelago.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of Maldives’ National College for Policing and Law Enforcement (NCPLE) where the EAM spoke.

“MoU signed today between @svpnpahyd and Maldives Police Force will grow NCPLE’s capacities and help it become a regional centre of excellence. Will also support the up-gradation of police infrastructure across #Maldives through an additional initiative,” EAM Jaishankar informed in a tweet.

“One of India’s largest grant-funded projects in the Maldives, the NCPLE will be the hub for a modern Police force in the years to come. The NCPLE will serve to strengthen the traditions of exchanges and training between the Police forces of Maldives and India,” Jaishankar added.

Jaishankar congratulated the Maldives Government and its people on the successful completion of NCPLE during his remarks at the ceremony.

“This venerable institution has left its imprint in many ways of making modern India. I emphasise that its contribution in the realm of foreign policy has been particularly strong. A score of foreign service officers have passed through its gates over the decade and currently, both the External Affairs Minister (Jaishankar) and Foreign Secretary (Harsh Shringla) have had the privilege of studying here,” he said during the speech.

India’s External Affair Minister S Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to the Maldives on March 26-27 after he got an invite from his Maldivian counterpart.

Meanwhile, EAM Jaishankar called on the President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday.

“…discussed the special partnership between our two countries that has produced so many substantive outcomes during his tenure,” he said.

The EAM also met the Home Minister of the Maldives Imran Abdulla.

“A fruitful meeting with @shimranAb, Home Minister of Maldives. Discussed capacity building and training cooperation in law enforcement. Appreciate his strong support for #IndiaMaldives special partnership,” Jaishankar tweeted. (ANI)

West Bengal police recovered crude bombs in Sikandarpur village of Birbhum on Sunday, informed officials.

The crude bombs were found inside a plastic bag near a football ground. A bomb squad team of CID was called to defuse the bombs.

A total of eight people were burnt to death in the Rampurhat area of West Bengal’s Birbhum on March 22 after a mob allegedly set houses on fire following the killing of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Bhadu Sheikh. The case is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation

Further details awaited. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the people for a “momentous feat” of 400 billion dollar exports and said that it signifies the country’s potential and capability.

“India has achieved the target of 400 billion dollar exports. It has filled us with pride This signifies India’s capabilities and potential. It means that the demand for Indian goods is rising in the world,” said PM Modi, in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

He said that India is reaching different corners and new markets in the world.

“There was a time when the figure of exports from India used to be 100 billion, at times 150 billion, sometimes 200 billion. India has reached 400 billion dollars,” he said.

He said that the success of small entrepreneurs is a thing of pride.

“Many fruits and vegetables like Ladakh’s apricot, Tamil Nadu’s bananas, Himachal’s millets are reaching the world. The list of ‘Make in India’ products are as huge as our potential and hard work of our farmers, manufacturers and industry,” said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister said that earlier it was believed only big people could sell products to the Government but the GeM Portal has changed this, illustrating the spirit of a New India.

“Right from Bijapur’s fruits and vegetables to the black rice from Chandoli we are seeing exponential exports. The best part is that our exports are being supplied to new destinations like Denmark, South Korea, London, Kenya among other nations,” he said.

“When each and every Indian is vocal for local, it does not take long for the local to become global. Let’s make the local ‘global’ and augment the prestige of our products further,” he added.

Speaking further, the Prime Minister said, “Today our small entrepreneurs are playing a major partnership role in government procurement through Government e-Market place – GeM. A much more transparent system has been developed through technology.”

India on March 23, scripted history of achieving its highest ever goods export target of USD 400 billion nine days ahead of schedule. On average, every hour USD 46 million goods are exported, USD 1 billion goods are exported everyday and USD 33 billion every month.

The exports in the financial year 2020-21 were USD 292 billion while the exports in 2021-22 are USD 400 billion with a 37 per cent rise. (ANI)

After a fight broke out between some school students, a 19-year boy was shot dead in Delhi’s Dwarka, said Police.

The incident happened on Saturday in front of Akshay Public School in Sector 16 A of Dwarka.

“The person deceased has been identified as Khurshid while the one booked for firing at him was identified as Sahil alias Monu alias Lather. Khurshid was rushed to Tarak Hospital where he was declared brought dead,” stated Delhi Police.

So far, three people, including Sahil have been arrested by the police. A country-made pistol along with one empty cartridge has been recovered from his possession.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against Sahil and he has been booked. (ANI)

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) for another six months.

“PM Modi had pledged and promised during the pandemic that not even a single person in the country shall sleep hungry or starve during the pandemic. He continued this yojana continuously and now has extended it for another six months. We want to thank PM from the depth of our hearts as he thinks about the poor, labour class and every stratum of the society,” Uttarakhand CM told ANI.

Dhami also stated that around 80 crore people were benefitted from PM’s scheme.

“The scheme had benefitted over 80 crore people countrywide, including 60 lakh people from Uttarakhand,” said Dhami.

The government had in March 2020 announced the distribution of additional free-of-cost foodgrains (rice/wheat) to about 80 crore National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries in the wake of the situation created by COVID-19 so that the vulnerable households do not suffer on account of non-availability of adequate foodgrains.

The Union Cabinet on Saturday extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) scheme for another six months – till September 2022 – with each beneficiary eligible to get an additional 5 kg free ration per month in addition to the normal quota of foodgrains under the NFSA. (ANI)

The virtual ‘Griha Pravesh’ of 5.21 houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) in Madhya Pradesh will be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, according to the state government’s Public Relations Department.

More than 24.10 lakh houses have been completed under this scheme so far. 152 houses were completed in the year 2016-17, 6.36 lakh in 2017-18, 6.79 lakh in 2018-19, 2.71 lakh in 2019-20, 2.60 lakh in 2020-21 and more than 5.41 lakh Pradhan Mantri Awas have been completed during the year 2021-22.

“Under the scheme PMAY (Rural), out of the approved houses of Baiga, Sahariya, and Bharia tribes, more than 23,000 houses have been completed,” said the press release by the Public Relations Department.

“Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has resolved that no poor of the state will live in a kuccha house. Every person will have his own Pucca house. Pucca houses will be provided to every person by the year 2024 under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. In the state, work is going on at a rapid pace in this scheme to fulfill Chief Minister Shri Chouhan’s resolve and it has brought good results also,” it further read.

The ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural)’ was launched in the country on April 1, 2016, by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

Under this scheme, all eligible homeless families and families living in kuccha and dilapidated houses will be provided pucca houses by the year 2024, equipped with all basic facilities. The beneficiaries in the scheme are selected on the basis of the survey list of Social, Economic and Caste Census-2021.

Under the scheme, people living in plain areas are provided Rs 1.20 lakh per house and Rs 1.30 lakh in Integrated Action Plan for Tribal and Backward Districts (IPA districts).

Once the house is approved, the first installment of Rs 25,000 is given, the second installment of Rs 40,000-45,000 is given at plinth level, the third installment of Rs 40,000-45,000 is given at lintel level and the fourth installment of Rs 15,000 is provided, under the scheme, on the completion of the house.

Apart from this, Rs 12,000 is additionally given for the construction of toilets. Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) scheme, wages for 90 to 95 days are also paid to the beneficiary of the house.

The ‘Awas Plus Yojana’ has been started, by the government, to provide Pradhan Mantri Awas to eligible persons who have been left out in the survey list of Social, Economic and Caste Census-2021. (ANI)

India’s daily new COVID-19 cases fell below the 1,500 mark on Sunday and 1,421 fresh infections were recorded in the last 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Following a continuous downward trend, the country’s active caseload also fell below 20,000-mark and currently stands at 16,187, accounting for 0.04 per cent of the total caseload.

A reduction of 554 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24.

The daily positivity rate is at 0.23 per cent while the weekly positivity rate is at 0.27 per cent.

As many as 1,826 people were recovered from the viral disease, in a single day and the total recoveries now stand at 4,24,82,262. The recovery rate is currently at 98.75 per cent.

The death toll climbed to 5,21,004 as 149 people succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours. The case fatality rate is at 1.21 per cent.

A total of 6,20,251 tests were conducted to detect the infection in the last 24 hours. India has so far conducted over 78.69 crore COVID-19 tests.

The cumulative number of COVID vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 183.20 crore. This has been achieved through 2,17,73,803 sessions.

The world’s largest COVID vaccination drive began in India on January 16, 2021. In a period of 145 days, India administered 25 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses as of June 9, 2021. On August 4, 2021, the vaccination coverage reached the 50 crore mark.

The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on June 21, 2021.

India crossed 75 crore vaccinations milestone on September 7, 2021, and achieved a milestone of 100 crore vaccinations on October 21, 2021.

On December 2, 2021, a total of 125 crore vaccine doses were administered in the country. India on January 9, 2022, crossed the 150 crore vaccine mark while on February 19, India crossed the 175 crore vaccination mark.

COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on March 16, 2022. So far, more than 1.22 crore (1,22,01,065) adolescents have been administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Central Government will procure and supply (free of cost) 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday inaugurated SpiceJet’s Gorakhpur-Varanasi flight via video conferencing and said that at present, there are nine functional airports in the state, connecting 75 destinations across the country.

“At present, nine airports are functioning in the state. Four years ago, just four airports in the state were connected to mere 25 destinations. Now flights for 75 destinations across the country are available from the state,” Adityanath said.

He thanked Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia for the improved air connectivity and said, “It is the first time that connectivity between two important cities– the land of Baba Gorakhnath with the land of Baba Vishwanath– has been created via air route.”

The Chief Minister also said that better connectivity does not only save time but also helps one connect with better employment opportunities and the development of the area.

“The improved air connectivity in Uttar Pradesh over the last five years is a testament to PM Modi’s commitment where he said that even the ones who wear Hawaii slippers will now travel in airplanes,” he said.

Yesterday, Adityanath directed the officials to prepare an action plan for the next 100 days, six months and a year to fulfill the promises made by the BJP during polls and to help the state achieve USD 1 trillion economy.

A decision to provide government jobs in the state was also taken during the first cabinet meeting.

Adityanath, in the meeting, said that a recruitment drive will be run in government departments and directed the public sector officials to prepare a list of vacancies. The chief minister also instructed the government department officials to work with honesty in the recruitment drive.

The state government has also extended the free ration scheme for the next three months which will benefit the 15 crore people of the state. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that for the scheme the government will spend Rs 3,270 crore.

Earlier on Friday, Adityanath took oath as the Chief Minister of the state. A total of 52 ministers took oath as ministers, including two deputy Chief Ministers.

The monk-turned politician took the reins of the most populous state for a second time in a row after completing his full five-year term – a feat repeated after 37 years.

Before being sworn as UP chief minister in 2017, he was Gorakhpur MP for five consecutive terms from 1998 to 2017.

Born on June 5, 1972, in a village in Uttarakhand, he was named Ajay Singh Bisht by his parents. He left home to join the movement for the construction of Ram Temple and became a disciple of Mahant Avaidyanath of Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur.

He started his political journey in 1998 becoming the youngest MP from Gorakhpur. (ANI)

Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has welcomed India’s “Neighbourhood First Policy” under which both countries have gained immense socio-economic benefits including the assistance provided by New Delhi throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shahid, who is also a President of the United Nations General Assembly thanked India for standing in solidarity with the Maldives, and for being its friend and partner throughout the years.

“The Maldives welcomes India’s “Neighborhood First Policy” under which we have gained immense socio-economic benefits. And we remain committed to our “India First Policy”. Our relationship is one that has stood the test of time, and one that will continue to flourish,” Maldives Foreign Minister said in a Tweet.

“I thank India for the assistance it has provided throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. We remain grateful that we can always rely on #India during times of need. Both our countries have experienced the hardships and tragedies of the pandemic, but we are emerging stronger together,” he said further on Saturday.

“I thank the Government and the people of India, for standing in solidarity with us, and for being our friend and partner throughout the years. May the close bonds between our two countries continue to grow deeper and stronger,” Shahid added.

On Saturday, India’s External Affair Minister S Jaishankar went to the Maldives on a two-day visit from March 26 to March 27 after he got an invite from his Maldivian counterpart.

Welcoming Jaishankar, Maldives Foreign Minister said that this is the first time official talks have been held out of the Capital City Male.

“You’ve made history, Minister @DrSJaishankar! This is the first time official talks have been held out of the Capital City Male’. Fortifying & building on the long-standing – ties is one of the top foreign policy priorities of President Solih’s administration,” Abdulla Shahid tweeted.

Neighbourhood First Policy of India is a core component of India’s foreign policy, focusing on peaceful relations and collaborative synergetic co-development with its South Asian neighbours. (ANI)