Tag: India

BJP Won't Renew UP Tickets For Sitting MPs, Barring One: Akhilesh

BJP Won’t Renew UP Tickets For Sitting MPs, Barring One: Akhilesh

By LokMarg

Amid rising differences between the INDIA partners over seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday sought to shift focus to the BJP, claiming that the ruling party at the Centre would not renew tickets to all its present MPs from the state barring one.

Posting from his official handle on X, the former chief minister said the BJP has still not put out its list of Lok Sabha candidates from the state as their sitting MPs did little except ‘fill their pockets’.

“We have gathered from sources that the BJP will not renew the tickets of all its present MPs from Uttar Pradesh, except one. They are in no position to announce their candidates (for UP) for the Lok Sabha elections as their sitting did nothing but fill their pockets. There is a lot of anger among the public against the BJP and its MPs. In the midst of such circumstances, they are searching for fresh candidates. However, no one wants to fight a losing battle. No one is coming forward to be a BJP candidate,” Akhilesh posted from X.

The SP chief stated further that BJP MPs won’t receive a warm reception when they return to their respective Lok Sabha constituencies. “This time, the people of Uttar Pradesh will not elect big talkers but ones who can actually deliver on their promises,” Akhilesh said, adding, “Ab PDA (Pichhde, Dalit, Alpasankhayak) Ki Ekta Jaagi, Chhod Ke UP BJP Bhaagi (when the PDA unite, the BJP will disappear from UP).”

Earlier, on Friday, SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav claimed that the Congress and the Akhilesh Yadav-led party have finalised their seat-sharing arrangement in Uttar Pradesh.

On whether the Congress could go with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in UP, Yadav said the grand old party has already reached an agreement over seat-sharing with the Samajwadis.

“The Congress has reached a seat-sharing agreement with the Samajwadi Party. We will declare our Lok Sabha candidates soon,” Yadav said. (ANI)

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Biden Approves 4 BN$ Arms Package Sale To India

Biden Approves 4 BN$ Arms Package Sale To India

By LokMarg

The Biden Administration has today notified the US Congress of its intent to sell nearly 4 billion dollars worth of arms comprising mainly of the MQ 9 B Drones armed with hellfire missiles.

The Defence Security Cooperation Agency, which is an agency within the US Department of Defence, said in a press release on Thursday that the sale helps in strengthening the US-Indian strategic relationship.

It added that New Delhi continues to be an “important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.”

“The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of India of MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $3.99 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today,” the Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

According to the statement, the Indian government has requested to buy 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian aircraft; 161 Embedded Global Positioning and Inertial Navigation Systems (EGIs); 35 L3 Rio Grande Communications Intelligence Sensor Suites; 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles; 16 M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); 310 GBU-39B/B Laser Small Diameter Bombs (LSDB); and eight GBU-39B/B LSDB Guided Test Vehicles (GTVs) with live fuzes.

The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a ‘major defense partner’ which continues to be an “important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region,” the release stated.

It further added that the proposed sale will improve India’s capability to meet “current and future threats” by enabling unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in sea lanes of operation while adding that India has demonstrated a commitment to modernizing its military and will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.

“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” it added.

As per the release, the principal contractor will be General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Poway, CA. and any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to India.

“There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale,” the release said. (ANI)

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US Issues Record-High 1.4 MN Visas For Indians

US Issues Record-High 1.4 MN Visas For Indians

By LokMarg

The US Consular Team in India processed a record 1.4 million US visas in 2023, which is higher than ever, and has brought down the visitor visa appointment wait times by 75 per cent.

The US Embassy and Consulates in India said that Indians now represent one out of every 10 US visa applicants around the world.

“In 2023, the US Embassy and Consulates in India processed a record-smashing 1.4 million US visas. Demand across all visa classes was unprecedented, with a 60 per cent increase in applications compared to 2022. Indians now represent one out of every ten US visa applicants around the world,” the statement read.

Visitor visas (B1/B2) have rebounded to represent the second-highest number of applications in the US Mission’s history — over 7,00,000.

Process improvements and investments in staffing have brought the appointment wait time for visitor visas down from an average of 1,000 days to only 250 days around the country with minimal wait time in all categories.

The US consular team in India issued over 1,40,000 student visas in 2023 – more than in any other country in the world setting a record for the third year in a row, the statement added.

Among the specific states, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai are the top four student visa processing posts in the world. This has made Indian students the largest group of international graduate students in the United States. They make up more than a quarter of the over one million foreign students studying in the United States.

The US Embassy and Consulates further stated that ’employment visas’ remain a top priority.

Consular Team India consolidated most petition-based visa processing in Chennai and Hyderabad to increase efficiency, leading to the processing of over 3,80,000 employment visas for Indians and their family members in 2023 and allowing the US Mission to maintain a minimal appointment wait time.

In another development, a pilot program this year will allow eligible H1B holders to renew their visas in the United States, further streamlining the process for this group.

It further informed that the Consulate General Mumbai eliminated a queue of over 31,000 immigrant visa cases delayed by the pandemic.

Those who have a pending immigrant visa petition and are ready for scheduling can now obtain an appointment within the standard, pre-pandemic appointment window, it added.

“The US Mission continues to invest in the future of consular services in India and explore ways to provide more efficient and convenient services. These investments have included the opening of a new USD 340 million facility in Hyderabad in March 2023, the announcement of two new consulates in Ahmedabad and Bangalore, continued capital improvements to our facilities around the country, and the permanent assignment of more consular officers to India,” the US Embassy and Consulates said in the statement. (ANI)

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France To Back Any Bid For Olympics By India: Macron

France To Back Any Bid For Olympics By India: Macron

By LokMarg

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday assured India that the hosts of the 2024 Olympics will back them to organize the multi-sport event in the country in the near future.

At the outset of his address during a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, Macron expressed that he is looking forward to building stronger cooperation on sports with India.

“We will be delighted to build a stronger cooperation on sports with you. We will definitely support your intention to organize the Olympic Games in India for the future…,” Macron said.

The French President was the chief guest at the 75th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on Friday. Macron’s state visit marks France’s sixth participation, the highest of any other nation, as chief guest on India’s Republic Day.

Meanwhile, France is the host of the 2024 Olympics which will take place from July 26 and will conclude on August 11. Soon after the end of the Olympics, the Paralympics will start from August 28 till September 8 in Paris.

Earlier on January 19 while inaugurating the Khelo India games, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the government was working towards hosting host the 2036 Olympic Games. The PM also underlined efforts by his government in the last 10 years to provide international exposure to athletes and provide an ecosystem for them to flourish.

In the 2020-21 Tokyo Olympics India achieved its best performance while it continued its superlative performance in the Asian Games and the Para Asian Games. (ANI)

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Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath Temple: ASI Survey Report To Be Made Public

Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath Temple: ASI Survey Report To Be Made Public

By LokMarg

The Varanasi district Court on Wednesday asked that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report be made public today and the hard copy be provided to both sides.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, said, “Today, the court heard both sides and a consensus was reached that the hard copy of the ASI’s report will be provided to both sides…The ASI objected to providing the report via email. So, both sides agreed to get the hard copy of the report.”

“The court listened to both sides today. After hearing both sides, an agreement was reached that a certified copy of ASI’s report be made available to both sides. As soon as the court passes the order, our legal team will apply for the certified copy…”

Earlier on January 16, the Supreme Court allowed an application of Hindu women petitioners seeking direction for cleaning the entire area of ‘wazukhana’ of Gyanvapi mosque where the alleged ‘Shivling’ was found and maintaining hygienic condition.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the area of ‘wazukhana’ shall be cleaned under the supervision of district administration Varanasi, having regard to the previous orders of the apex court.

Gyanvapi mosque management committee said it supports cleaning of the water tank, which has remained sealed on apex court’s orders for nearly two years.

The area of ‘wazukhana’ was sealed in 2022 on a Supreme Court order after the discovery of what was said to be a ‘Shivling’.

A structure — claimed to be a “Shivling” by the Hindu side and a “fountain” by the Muslim side — was found in the mosque premises on May 16, 2022, during a court-mandated survey of the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The ‘Wazu’ area of the Gyanvapi mosque is the centre of the Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute between Hindus and Muslim parties in the case since the Hindu parties claim that ‘Shivling’ has been found in that spot, however, the Muslim side disputed the same and said that it is only a water fountain. (ANI)

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Rahul Gandhi OBC Modi

Efforts Made To Enslave Students Of North East, India: Rahul

By LokMarg

Amid the rift with Assam Chief Minister, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that efforts are being made to enslave students of North East and India, adding “There is no need for any student to be afraid.”

He also alleged that the Home Minister of the country picked up the phone and called CM Himanta and said that Rahul Gandhi should not meet the students of Assam.

“We are being stopped everywhere. The Home Minister of the country picked up the phone and called CM Himanta and said that Rahul Gandhi should not meet the students of Assam. That’s not important whether Rahul Gandhi comes here or not. What’s important is that the students must be allowed to listen to whomever they want to. But it is not happening in any schools and colleges in Assam. You are being told that you cannot speak your language. You are being told that you cannot have your history,” he said.

He further said that efforts are being made to enslave the students of North East and India.

“Nobody can stop you from thinking about the India that you want. Nobody can stop you from reading or writing in the language you want. Nobody should stop you from believing in any religion you want. You have come here because you are not ready for what the Chief Minister wants you to follow. An attempt is being made to stop the student from thinking. If students are stopped from thinking then India will be destroyed, India will not survive,” Rahul Gandhi added.

“There is no need for any student to be afraid, you are the future of this country,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, As Bharat Jodo Yatra resumed its journey on the 10th day on Tuesday from Assam, heavy security was deployed at Khanapara Area, the entry point of Guwahati for the Yatra.

There was barricading and heavy deployment of police officials in the Khanapara Area, where Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra will reach today.

According to Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’s official handle on X, the Congress will hold a press conference later today. After that, the yatra will resume its journey and it will halt at Bishnupur in Assam.

Bhupen Kumar Borah, Assam Congress President said “Rahul ji’s name is not in any corruption case. Who is Raavan? Today, women in Assam are the most unsafe in the entire country. So wherever Ravana is, women will be unsafe.”

Rahul Gandhi on Monday who arrived at the Batadrava Than, the birthplace of revered Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva, in Assam, took a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he was denied permission to enter the shrine.

“We want to visit the temple (Batadrava Than). What crime have I committed that I cannot visit the temple?” Rahul Gandhi said.

“I want to go to the temple, what is wrong with this? Earlier we were invited but now the administration is saying that we cannot go. “Aaj sirf ek vyakti mandir mein ja sakta hain…”(Perhaps today only one person can go to the temple),” the Congress leader said in an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishta’ ceremony at Ayodhya Ram Temple. (ANI)

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campus Bengaluru

Bengaluru Gets A Boeing Campus

By LokMarg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated a new state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering and Technology Center (BIETC) campus in Bengaluru.

Built with an investment of Rs 1,600 crores, the 43-acre campus is Boeing’s largest such investment outside the US.

Boeing’s new campus in India will become a cornerstone for partnership with the vibrant startup, private and government ecosystem in India, and will help develop next-generation products and services for the global aerospace and defence industry.

Prime Minister today also launched the Boeing Sukanya Program that aims to support the entry of more girl children from across India into the country’s growing aviation sector. The program will provide opportunities for girls and women from across India to learn critical skills in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) fields and train for jobs in the aviation sector.

For young girls, the program will create STEM Labs at 150 planned locations to help spark interest in STEM careers. The program will also provide scholarships to women who are training to be pilots.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi asserted that India aims to reduce its offshore dependence on aircraft leasing and financing and the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) in Gujarat’s GIFT City will help in realizing it.

We are working to simplify aircraft leasing. We endeavour to reduce India’s offshore dependence on aircraft leasing and financing. So, we have set up IFSCA. The benefit of this will be reaped by the entire country,” said PM Modi, after inaugurating the new state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering and Technology Center (BIETC) campus in Bengaluru.

India today is the third largest domestic civil aviation market, with volume more than doubling in the past decade, PM Modi said.

“UDAN scheme has helped a lot. In the coming years, the domestic air traffic will further rise. Looking at such a huge demand, our airlines have placed a massive order for aircraft. India will give new energy to the global aviation market.”

To further India’s aviation market, the central government is encouraging states to reduce taxes on aviation fuel, he said.

“India will one day develop ‘aircraft of the future’ from this particular centre,” he said, congratulating Boeing management.

“Bengaluru is the city which connects aspirations with innovations and achievements. It’s the city that connects India’s tech potential to global demands. This new Global Technology Centre of Boeing will strengthen the identity of Bengaluru.” This campus is a stamp of approval for Indian talents, he added.

“This facility will help Indian youth to learn new skills in the aviation sector. Our endeavour is to raise women’s participation in all sectors,” he noted.

Talking about women’s participation in the aviation sector, 15 per cent of Indian pilots are women, which is thrice the global average.

“Be it fighter pilots or civil aviation pilots, Indian women are leading today. I can say with pride that 15 per cent of our total pilots are women. To put this into context, this is thrice the global average,” he asserted.

PM Modi also apprised the gathering that the number of operational airports in India rose from around 70 to now 150 since year 2014.

“We have not only new airports but also improved our efficiency manifold,” PM Modi added. (ANI)

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Smriti

India A Vibrant Democracy That Can Deliver Digitally: Smriti At WEF Davos

By LokMarg

At the World Economic Forum in Davos the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on Wednesday hosted the CII-Deloitte Breakfast Session on “Digital Public Infrastructure and India’s Impact on Global Technology Value Chains”

The session hosted by CII showcased India’s prowess as a vibrant democracy capable of delivering digitally.

During the session, Union Minister Smriti Irani emphasized India’s success in delivering technology-driven solutions to its massive population, exceeding a billion. The minister highlighted India’s digital capabilities and the significant demand for data science professionals in the country.

Speaking at the session Union Minister Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani said “India is a vibrant democracy that can deliver digitally. It has delivered through technology to a billion+ population. All those who are keen to invest in India, the demand for data science professionals in India in 2024 alone is for one million professionals.”

“Irrespective of the challenges that the pandemic brought, India carried out very substantial policy reform and performed digitally to protect its populace. India did not lose opportunities to engage globally and were never shut for business even during the pandemic” the Minister added.

Speaking at the session CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said that Digital infrastructure is leading to innovation in India.

“Digital Public Infrastructure has affected a large number of businesses including small, medium and large and is leading to a lot of innovation in the country. Further, DPI is being offered to the world free of cost, which is an example to share with the rest of the world. The low cost of doing business & ease of doing business is encouraging more and more people in doing business with India” Chandrajit Banerjee said.

Arvind Krishna Chairman and CEO of IBM who was also part of the CII-Deloitte Breakfast Session said that India’s digital public infrastructure had contributed significantly to productivity.

“During the pandemic, the digital infrastructure in India enabled people to work remotely. All the deliveries and e-commerce allowed people to work, which contributed significantly to increased productivity and GDP, which would not have been possible without the digital public infrastructure” Arvind Krishna said.

R Dinesh, President, CII & Chairman TVS Supply Chain Solutions said India is on the cusp of an exciting journey.

“Infrastructure spends and tracking – this is where the companies are investing both from business as well as the competitiveness perspective to get the visibility of infrastructure across the end user. India is on the cusp of a very exciting journey that will go through very different levels and will provide significant boost to ease of doing business for investors” R Dinesh said.

The acknowledgement of India’s digital capabilities and the significant demand for data science professionals underscores the country’s commitment to harnessing technology for socio-economic development and its appeal as an attractive destination for digital investments. (ANI)

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Indian National Developmental

INDIA Bloc Leaders Attend Virtual Meet

By LokMarg

A virtual meeting of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc leaders began on Saturday afternoon to review seat-sharing agenda, participation in Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and other matters related to the alliance.

The bloc leaders are also likely to discuss the name of the convener for the alliance.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar attended the meeting of INDIA bloc leaders via video conferencing in Mumbai.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin and party leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi attended the meeting via video conferencing in Chennai.

Earlier, there was a meeting of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Friday evening regarding seat sharing.

The meeting lasted for about two hours at Mukul Wasnik’s house, and the leaders of both parties described the meeting as a positive move, as per sources.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Friday informed that the meeting will also discuss the participation of the alliance parties in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which is set to begin on January 14 in Manipur.

“INDIA party leaders will be meeting over Zoom tomorrow, January 13th, 2024. They will review various issues like seat-sharing talks that have begun, participation in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra that will begin from Thoubal near Imphal, the day after tomorrow, and other important matters. Badlega Bharat Jeetega INDIA!,” Jairam Ramesh posted on X.

INDIA or ‘Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’ is a group of opposition parties, including the Congress. The parties have come together to take on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and prevent it from winning a third straight term at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections draw near, India’s political landscape is undergoing a significant reshuffling. The emerging INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) consortium is gearing up to challenge the established National Democratic Alliance, setting the stage for an electoral showdown.

Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA won 353 seats, the UPA stood at 91, and Others won 98. The voting was staggered in seven phases between April 11 and May 19, in which around 67 per cent of the nearly 900 million eligible people exercised their franchise to elect 542 members of the Lok Sabha.

The  Lok Sabha elections will be held this year that is likely to be between the Modi government’s NDA alliance and the INDIA bloc. (ANI)

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Sanjay Mehrotra and modi

Modi, Micron CEO Discuss India’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Ecosystem

By LokMarg

Sanjay Mehrotra, the President and CEO of Micron Technology, held a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar, where they discussed Micron’s efforts to enhance the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India.

“They discussed Micron’s efforts to enhance the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India,” PMO said in an X post.

Speaking after his meeting with PM Modi, CEO of Micron Sanjay Mehrotra said that he had discussed the progress of Micron’s project in Sanand with the Prime Minister.

“We were pleased to have the opportunity to update Prime Minister Modi on the progress that we are making with our Sanand and project so our meeting was dedicated to that as well as Microns focus on continuing to increase the workforce for semiconductor manufacturing here in India and we also talked about my Micron’s engagement with a social with community here (the Atal Tinkering Lab)” Mehrotra said.

“So these were various topics, very engaging discussion and we really appreciate Prime Minister Modi’s support as well as the Chief Minister support the government support at the state level as well as the central level toward advanced of semiconductor manufacturing” he added.

“I think it’s a great opportunity and India’s time has come in this regard and Micron has taken the pioneering step of starting manufacturing plant here and we hope the ecosystem can follow successfully in this regard” the Micron CEO further said.

During PM Modi’s US State visit last year, the semiconductor manufacturer announced its India investment plans. Micron Technology committed that it will invest up to USD 825 million to build a new semiconductor assembly and test facility in India with support from the Indian government.

Micron had selected Gujarat’s SANAND Industrial Park (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation – GIDC) due to its manufacturing infrastructure, conducive business environment and firm talent pipeline.

India hopes to become a major global hub in semiconductor manufacturing over the next 10 years.

The semiconductor industry in India is still in a nascent stage, and the central government has been aggressively looking at collaboration with global and domestic players to make further inroads in this crucial sector.

In July last year, Sanjay Mehrotra met PM Modi in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar and they discussed the US-based company’s plans to bolster the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem within India.

The meeting last year was held during the second edition of Semicon, organized by India Semiconductor Mission in partnership with industry and industry associations, aimed at making India a global hub for semiconductor design, manufacturing and technology development. The first edition of Semicon India was held in Bengaluru the preceding year.

The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit was initiated by Narendra Modi in 2003, then chief minister, to put Gujarat on the world map of trade and industry. The tenth edition of the Summit will be held from January 10 to 12, 2024. For the smooth conduct of the event, several committees have been formed to look after various aspects of the summit. (ANI)

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