India Archives - Page 9 of 53 - Lokmarg

Success Of G20, Chandrayaan-3 Filled India With New Energy

By LokMarg 29th September 2023

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that democracy is very deep-rooted in the country and that has been the biggest achievement as a nation in the last 75 years.

Addressing the 118th annual session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) at Vigyan Bhawan here, the Union Minister has also congratulated India’s G20 presidency and the success of ISRO’s moon mission-Chandrayaan.

“G20, the success of Chandrayaan-3, Mission Aditya L-1 and the passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill, all these events have filled the country with new energy… The country has completed the journey of 75 years and in the past 75 years, we have made several achievements in every sector… We have proved ourselves at the international forum,” Shah said.

The union minister further said, “In the 100th year of our Independence, we want a country that is ahead in all sectors.”

Shah also congratulated the team of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) for choosing the theme “Rising India: Yahi Samay Hai, Sahi Samay Hai,” for the summit.

Shah said previously the ‘Make in India’ programme was mocked but now the country is a dream destination in the production sector.

“Make in India programme, was mocked earlier, today we are the dream destination in the production sector. In the next 10 years, India will be the best destination for students across the world,” Shah said.

He further said that there is democracy and teamwork (in-country), besides clarity on policy formulation under PM Modi’s leadership.

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) has been working as a catalyst for the promotion of Indian industry, trade and entrepreneurship for the past 118 years. It is a forward-looking, proactive and dynamic PAN-India apex organization.

As a partner in progress with industry and government, PHDCCI works at the grassroots level with strong national and international linkages for propelling progress, harmony and integrated development of the Indian economy. (ANI)

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Asian Games: Palak Gets Gold, Esha Wins Silver In Women’s 10M Air Pistol Final

By LokMarg 29th September 2023

The Indian contingent’s unprecedented run in shooting at the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou continues as 17 year old Palak secured a gold medal while 18 year old Esha Singh secured a silver medal in the 10m air pistol women’s individual final on Friday.

With an individual score of 242.1 points, Palak not only won the gold, but also established a new Asian Games record in her category, going past China’s record from 2018.

Esha won the silver with 239.7 points, continuing her incredible run as a shooter in Hangzhou with her fourth medal of these games.

With this, India’s shooting medal tally in Hangzhou has gone up to 17.

Now, India has a total of 30 medals at the ongoing Asian Games, with eight gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals.

Earlier, The men’s trio of Swapnil Kusal, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Akhil Sheoran clinched a gold medal at the 50 m rifle men’s 3P event on Friday.

With a score of 1769 points, Team India secured the gold. The silver medal was won by 1763 points and the bronze medal went to South Korea with 1748 points. With their score, India also broke the world record of 1761 points held by the USA since last year.

Earlier, the shooting trio of Esha Singh, Palak and Divya Subbaraju continued the country’s unstoppable run at shooting as they secured a silver medal in the women’s 10 m air rifle pistol team final at the ongoing Asian Games on Friday.

With a total of 1731 points, India managed to get their hands on silver, falling just five short of gold, which was won by China with 1736 points. Chinese Taipei secured the bronze medal with 1723 points.

Earlier on Thursday, Sarabjot Singh, Shiva Narwal, and Arjun Singh Cheema bagged another gold medal for India in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol Team at the Hangzhou Asian Games here on Thursday.

The match-up saw a comeback from Sarabjot Singh to qualify in fifth place for the final of the individual event. Arjun Singh Cheema qualified for the final in 8th place. Shiva Narwal failed to qualify for the individual final finishing 14th but the Indian team’s combined score was enough to edge out China by one point for Gold.

With 1734 points Indian team clinched the gold, China stood second with 1733 points and Vietnam secured the bronze with 1730 points. (ANI)

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Army Moves Over Rs 6,500 Cr Deal To Defence For 400 Howitzers From Desi Firms

By LokMarg 28th September 2023

In a mega push to promote indigenously designed and developed weapon systems, the Indian Army has moved a proposal to the Defence Ministry to buy 400 howitzers from Indian firms.

Indian Army’s Regiment of Artillery is looking to use the expertise of Indian Industry to produce 155 mm/52 calibre Towed Gun System, which will be lighter, versatile and cater for future technological advancements.

“A proposal for buying 400 155mm 52 calibre towed gun systems (TGS) along with towing vehicles from Indian firms under the Buy Indian-IDDM category has been moved to the Defence Ministry. The government is expected to soon take a decision on the TGS at a high-level meeting,” senior military officials told ANI.

The Indian Army has already issued a tender for buying 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) along with one for finding a mounted gun system for its requirements along borders with China and Pakistan.

The Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured howitzer would mean that it would be totally Indian in all ways.

The Army wants the guns to be lighter in weight and easier to deploy in high-altitude areas like the older bofors guns.

The procurement process is part of the Army plan for Mediumisation with indigenous guns and is likely to be completed by the year 2042

In the last decade, four contracts have been concluded for the procurement of 155 mm howitzer. These Gun Systems have already been inducted and more number of Regiments are being equipped with these guns.

These gun systems include Dhanush, Sharang, Ultra Light Howitzer (ULH) and K-9 Vajra Self Propelled Guns.

Dhanush Guns are an electronic upgrade of Bofors Guns, while the Sharang Guns have been up-gunned from 130mm to 155mm calibre.

Seven Regiments have already been equipped with ULHs while five have been equipped with self-propelled guns. (ANI)

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India Amongst Most Important Voices, Champion Of Global South: Gates Foundation Top Official

By LokMarg 28th September 2023

Lauding India’s support for emerging economies in the Southern hemisphere and terming it as one of the most important voice and champions of the global south, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman has said that the foundation sees India’s ability to be a “global leader.”

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Suzman said that models developed in India can accelerate progress globally, especially in the Global South.

“India is clearly one of the most important voices and champions of the Global South. And that’s why it’s a country that we (Gates Foundation) in addition to the strong partnerships we’ve developed over the 20 years, we worked in India, to help drive better health and development outcomes in India. We now see India’s ability to be a global leader in helping rollout and share some of its lessons and best practices in health in digital financial inclusion in agriculture. And that’s something we’re excited to be working on and building on in the years to come,“ Suzman told ANI.

Moreover, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New York hosted several leaders of the Global South at a special event ‘India-UN for Global South’, highlighting how India is trying to strike a balance in the international system.

Earlier this month the African Union was granted permanent member status in the Group of 20 (G20) top world economies.

Global South is used to refer to developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, while economically developed countries such as the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, Australia and New Zealand constitute Global North. The African continent is home to about 17 per cent of the world’s population. However, until September this year South Africa had been the only G20 member.

Suzman hailed the G20 grouping for reaching the “groundbreaking” consensus on the role of digital public infrastructure as a critical accelerator of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the global south.

“There is a strong opportunity right now, to use that Global South framework in specific areas. We’re particularly focused in areas like health and financial inclusion that focus on the poorest and most vulnerable and we’re certainly looking forward to working with the Government of India to help roll those out in the years to come,” CEO further added.

Suzman’s comments came at the annual “Goalkeepers” conference in New York that was largely focused on improving maternal and newborn health in low-income countries. The foundation’s top offcial also recognized India’s job of prioritizing maternal and child health by Public and private partnerships that have accelerated progress.

“We work very closely with the states particularly of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which traditionally have had some of the most challenging statistics in terms of maternal and child mortality outcomes, but have recently seen significant progress.”

The foundation also celebrated “goalkeepers”—individuals who are working across the world to address sustainable development goals.

The event was filled with stories of individuals and organizations and their on-the-ground successes, from Yetunde Ayo Oyalowo, a doctor in Lagos, Nigeria who founded a program that sets up mobile clinics in markets and hard-to-reach communities to, Eva Nangalo, a midwife in Uganda. (ANI)

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US Mission To India Surpasses One MN Visas In 2023

By LokMarg 28th September 2023

The US Mission to India has reached and surpassed the goal to process one million non-immigrant visa applications in 2023.

The mission has already surpassed the total number of cases processed in 2022 and is processing almost 20 per cent more applications than in the pre-pandemic year 2019.

The US Embassy and Consulates in India said in a statement that last year over 1.2 million Indians visited US, making one of the most robust travel relationships in the world.

“Indians now represent over 10 per cent of all visa applicants worldwide, including 20 per cent of all student visa applicants and 65 per cent of all H&L-category (employment) visa applicants. The United States welcomes this growth,” the statement said.

The US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti expressed happiness as he shared the information “Our partnership with India is one of the United States’ most important bilateral relationships, and in fact one of the most important relationships in the world” he said.

“The ties between our people are stronger than ever, and we will continue our record-setting volume of visa work in the coming months to give as many Indian applicants as possible the opportunity to travel to the United States and experience the U.S.-India friendship first hand” Garcetti added.

The US envoy to gave Visa to the one millionth US Visa holder, Ranju Singh and her spouse, who are planning to go the US to meet their son who is studying there.

Garcetti congratulated them as he gave them their visas and had a brief conversation with the one millionth US visa holder.

He further highlighted that PM Modi and US President Joe biden said “lets do a better job of moving faster on visas, so the Ministry of External Affairs approved more bodies in places like hyderabad, more people who can work on these visas. We changed our systems, we worked smarter, worked harder and got a million visa applications…”

“This is really people to people relationhip and not just country to country relationship,” he added.

The envoy said that US will continue to invest heavily in its operations in India as it recognizes the continues demand for US visas.

The US Embassy in India marked the occassion by posting a video on X that said “Mission to one million accomplished.”

“#Missionto1M accomplished! We are excited to announce that the U.S. Mission to India has reached and surpassed our goal to process one million visa applications in 2023! We will not stop here and continue our progress in coming months, to give as many Indian applicants the opportunity to travel to the United States,” the post said.

In the Video US Envoy Garcetti said that people to people ties between the United States and India are stronger than ever.

“To all one million applicants, thank you for choosing to be a part of the US-india story. Whether you are studying, working, vacationing, or investing, your contributions are a big part of what makes this relationship so great,” Garcetti said in the video.

The US Embassy in its statement said that it was investing heavily in facilitating faster visa processing.

“In the past year, the Mission has expanded its staffing to facilitate more visa processing than ever before. The Mission has made significant capital improvements to existing facilities, such as the U.S. Consulate in Chennai, and has inaugurated a new Consulate building in Hyderabad,” a statement from the US Embassy said.

According to the statement, the mission has also implemented strategies to increase efficiency extending interview waiver eligibility to new visa categories and utilizing remote work to allow staff around the world to contribute to Indian visa processing.

“Early next year, the Mission plans to implement a pilot program that would allow domestic visa renewal for qualified H&L-category employment visa applicants,” the statement from the US Embassy read.

During US President Joe Biden’s visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Biden stated in a joint statement that the countries share a “close and enduring” partnership.

According to the joint statement, “Improved visa processing is only one example of the U.S. Mission to India’s ongoing commitment to strengthening that partnership.” (ANI)

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PM To YouTubers: Together, We Can Empower People

By LokMarg 27th September 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that all ‘YouTube’ content creators can contribute to bring about transformation in the lives of a vast population in the country and empower and strenghten individuals.

“Together, we can bring transformation to the lives of a vast population in our country. Together we can empower and strengthen many more individuals,” the Prime Minister said while addressing ‘fellow YouTubers’.

PM Modi was addressing YouTube Fanfest India 2023 on Wednesday.

Calling the YouTube content creators as “My YouTuber friends”, the Prime Minister said, “Since 15 years, I have also been connected to the country and the world through a YouTube channel.”

He also boasted that he has subscribers in decent numbers.

Speaking about the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Prime Minister said that YouTubers have made cleanliness more “cool”.

“Swachh Bharat became a big campaign in the last nine years. Everyone contributed to it, children brought an emotional power to it. Celebrities gave it heights, people in all corners of the country turned it into a mission and YouTubers like you made cleanliness more cool. Till the time cleanliness does not become India’s identity, we won’t stop. Therefore cleanliness must be a priority for each one of you,” Modi said.

On digital payments, the Prime Minister asked his fellow YouTubers to teach people to make digital payments in simple language through their videos.

“Due to the success of UPI, India today has 46 per cent share in digital payments of the world. You should inspire more and more people of the country to make digital payments, teach them to make digital payments in simple language through your videos,” he said.

The Prime Minister also asked YouTubers to make an emotional appeal to people through their videos to urge them to buy local products.

“You can promote them also through your work and help in making India’s local turn global. Inspire others also, make an emotional appeal that we will buy the product that has the fragrance of our soil which has the sweat of a labourer or artisan of our country,” he said.

Before signing off, Prime Minister appealed to all viewers to subscribe to his YouTube channel and hit the Bell Icon to receive all updates about him and his programs. (ANI)

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‘Bharat is a Product of Sanatan Dharma’: Guv Ravi’s Jibe At Udhayanidhi

By LokMarg 27th September 2023

Even as the fury over DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s rant against Sanatan Dharma is yet to die down, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Wednesday said the successful hosting of the G20 Summit by India, under the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (One Earth, One Family, One Future), has got the world to acknowledge and celebrate Sanatan like never before.

Taking a veiled at the DMK minister. the Governor said Sanatan was “indestructible”.

Addressing a conference in Chennai earlier, Udhayanidhi equated Sanatan with “mosquitoes, dengue, malaria, fever and Corona” and called for it to be eradicated as opposed to being merely opposed.

“On the 9th and 10th of this month, the world celebrated the ‘Sanatana Utsava’ in New Delhi as we hosted the G20 Summit. This is because the G20 Summit under Bharat’s presidency was done with full commitment to Sanatana values, Sanatana Dharma, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam… Today, the world has begun celebrating Sanatana Dharma,” Ravi said at an event on Wednesday.

The Governor said, “Some people are distorting the ideas and beliefs around Satanan by making all sorts of negative remarks. They are doing so out of their selfish interests. They disregard the value of Sanatan. However, Sanatan is indestructible.”

“We have to be awake and alert to our responsibilities. If anyone speaks about eradicating it (Sanatan) or causing it any harm, we must realise that they are peddling an agenda to break the country,” Governor Ravi said.

Stressing that the “core strength” of Bharat lies in Sanatan, he claimed that “anti-national elements were attempting to strike at the very core of the country”.

“That is what the Britishers did, or tried to do. They succeeded in breaking Bharat as Partition saw the country being splintered into two,” the Tamil Nadu Governor said, adding, “Bharat cannot afford another partition”.

Invoking Ambedkar, he said, “Our Constitution says, ‘India that is Bharat’. Bharat is a product of Sanatana Dharma. Unfortunately, after the Britishers left, we didn’t do much to make the citizens understand what Bharat is.” (ANI)

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Women Lead Modi’s Convoy At Vadodara Roadshow

By LokMarg 27th September 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, flanked by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, held a roadshow in Vadodara on Wednesday.

A large crowd of supporters, predominatly women, lined the streets and held up placards welcoming PM Modi as the open-topped vehicle bedecked with flowers made its way.

Significantly, a sizeable contingent of women led PM Modi’s convoy as it made its way past cheering and chanting locals.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi addressed a programme marking 20 years of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, in Science City, Ahmedabad.

He termed 20 years of the summit as a “key milestone” in advancing the state’s growth.

“When Vibrant Gujarat was started, there were no big hotels in Gujarat where foreign guests could stay. Even government guesthouses used to be full. We often had to make do with university guesthouses (to house foreign delegates),” PM Modi said.

“We not only redeveloped Gujarat but also thought about its future. We conceived ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ as a key contributor in this direction. ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ was aimed at enhancing Gujarat’s global appeal and giving the state a platform to connect with the world,” he added.

Stating that the world was closely tracking the success of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, PM Modi said, “Vibrant Gujarat is not just about branding the state but it also about bonding.”

He pointed out that after the success of the ‘Vibrant Gujarat Summit’, many states have come to organise similar events to draw investments.

The event was attended by industry associations, prominent personalities from the sphere of trade and commerce, young entrepreneurs, and students of higher and technical education colleges, among others. (ANI)

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Modi Recalls 20-Year Journey Of Vibrant Gujarat Summit

By LokMarg 27th September 2023

While the world is now watching the success of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, when the event began 20 years ago the then Central government did not extend any cooperation and attempts were made to degrade the state’s image, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday.

“…Those who ran central government earlier used to link Gujarat’s development with politics. Ministers of then Central government used to refuse to come to Vibrant Gujarat…they used to threaten foreign investors and tried to stop them (foreign investors) from coming to Gujarat…even after so much of threatening, foreign investors came to Gujarat, ” PM Modi said.

Addressing a programme marking 20 years of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, in Science City, Ahmedabad, the Prime Minister termed the 20 years of the summit as a “key milestone” in advancing the state’s growth.

“When Vibrant Gujarat was started, there were no big hotels in Gujarat where foreign guests could stay. Even govt guesthouses used to get full and we used even University guesthouses…” PM Modi said.

“We not only redeveloped Gujarat but also thought about its future, we made ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ a key channel for this. ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ was made a channel to increase the self-confidence of Gujarat and a channel to speak to the world eye to eye,” the PM said.

Stating that the world is watching the success of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit he said “Vibrant Gujarat is not just a programme of branding but more than that it is a programme of bonding.”

He pointed out that after the success of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, many states have started their own investment summits.

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Modi To Attend Ram Temple’s Consecration in Jan 2024

By LokMarg 26th September 2023

As preparations are in full swing for Ram Lalla’s Pran Pratishta (consecration) ceremony in Ayodhya, Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das Ji Maharaj on Tuesday asserted that ‘Pran Pratishtha’ will take place on January 22, 2024, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to take part.

“From January 15 to 24, there will be an ‘Anushthan’ and the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ will also take place during it. The time of the arrival of the PM is decided. He will come on January 22. ‘Pran Pratishtha’ will also take place on January 22. All are invited and welcome to come. The trust will welcome and respect each and everyone,” Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das Ji Maharaj said.

When asked about reports of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visiting Ayodhya, Satyendra Das Ji Maharaj said that the grand temple of Lord Ram is ready and the Lord Ram will be installed after the ‘Pran Pratishtha’.

“This information is sent all over the world that more and more people should come and attend it. Whether it is the opposition or the ruling party, whoever comes, each and everyone would be welcomed and respected… Whoever comes with the view of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, would be welcomed and respected,” he added.

Meanwhile, he further said that Ram Mandir is divine and grand and is being built beautifully.

“It (Ram Mandir) is divine and grand and is being built beautifully. Especially, the ‘Garbh Grih’ on the ground floor is ready, and carving is underway. Installation of windows and gates is pending,’ he said.

“The floor is ready. They are trying to build it in a way that no other temple is as beautiful as this one… People would be able to see how it was in the ‘Treta Yug’… It will be on three floors and there will be a dome on the top… The preparations are being well done,” he added.

On August 5, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Ram Temple and since then the construction work of the temple is going on. Union Minister Home Minister Amit Shah had announced that the Ram Temple will be opened for devotees by January 1, next year. (ANI)

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